Russia reportedly seeks tycoon's extradition

A Russian news agency says Moscow has asked Britain to extradite a former oil tycoon who fled after what he called harassment by the government.

State-run RIA-Novosti cites a high-level investigative official as saying Mikhail Gutseriyev is in Britain and Russia has requested his extradition.

Gutseriyev used to head Russneft, once Russia's seventh-largest oil company. He fled the country last year amid what he said was "unprecedented hounding" from the state, including a tax-evasion probe. Analysts linked his troubles to a dispute with the state-run oil giant Rosneft.

Russia has unsuccessfully asked Britain to extradite other prominent figures, including tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who are wanted on what the accused say are politically motivated charges,