Russian diplomats arrive home after expulsion from Britain

MOSCOW -- Nearly two dozen Russian diplomats expelled by Britain over the poisoning of an ex-spy arrived home Tuesday, while a scientist involved in the creation of the nerve agent said it could be manufactured by other countries.

Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, are in critical condition in the English city of Salisbury after being poisoned March 4. Britain said they were poisoned with a class of nerve agent known as Novichok and blamed Russia for the attack.

Russian scientist Leonid Rink told the state RIA Novosti news agency Britain and others could easily synthesize Novichok after chemical expert Vil Mirzayanov emigrated to the U.S. and revealed its formula.

"It's easily available to professionals, and there is no problem for Britain, the U.S. and other developed nations to create such weapon," he said.

Rink said Novichok had a different name when it was designed in the Soviet Union, arguing British officials used the name Novichok to convince the public Russia was to blame for the poisoning.

Britain has dismissed claims the nerve agent could come from the U.K. Sunday, Russia's ambassador to the EU suggested the nerve agent could have come from Britain's chemical weapons research facility, Porton Down. The British government said the claim was "nonsense."

British Prime Minister Theresa May last week gave the 23 diplomats -- whom she said were undeclared intelligence agents -- seven days to leave Britain. Russia responded by expelling the same number of British diplomats, who are expected to leave in the coming days.

Diplomats and their families emerged from the Russian Embassy in west London with suitcases, bags and pet carriers. Some hugged before boarding vehicles to Stansted Airport near London for a flight to Moscow.

Russia has fiercely denied any involvement, saying it had no motive to kill Skripal, who was convicted of spying for Britain but released in a 2010 spy swap. It said it had completed the destruction of its chemical arsenals last year under international oversight.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the poisoning didn't come up in President Donald Trump's phone call Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sanders said the call, in which Trump congratulated Putin on his re-election Sunday, was meant to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countriees.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed demands by Britain and its allies Russia prove its innocence, saying it's Britain who must provide proof.