Russia 'summons UK envoy' in row

The Russian foreign ministry has summoned the UK ambassador over the reopening of British Council offices, Russia's Interfax news agency reports.

The UK embassy in Moscow declined to comment on the ambassador's schedule.

British Council offices reopened in the Russian cities of St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg despite a government ban.

They were ordered to close last month in a deepening political row over the fatal poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London.

The Russian ban does not apply to the British Council's Moscow office.

The Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, was accused of violating Russian tax rules.