*RUSSIA FM THREATENS TO HIT BACK AT BRITAIN*

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER threatened Wednesday to retaliate against Britain for the ''anti Russian measures'', with-

Two countries at - Loggerheads over the poisoning of a spy in southern England.

Speaking after a meeting with Japanese counterpart Taro Kono, Sergei Lavrov said :

''If the British government continues taking some anti-Russian measures, we will hit back under the principle of reciprocity.''

Lavrov urged the British government to ''respond calmly'' over the March 4 attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who remain in critical condition.

Britain says only Russia had the capability, motive and intent to be behind the attack, which used the nerve agent Novichok reportedly developed by the former Soviet Union.

Russian President has dismissed this as ''nonsense''.

Britain reacted by expelling 23 Russian diplomats and their families - around 80 people in total - and has also cut off high-level contacts.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said London was ''actively considering'' other measures.

[Agencies]