Britain yesterday told Russia that any attempt to intimidate staff of its cultural arm was "completely unacceptable" after Russia's state security service summoned local employees for questioning.

Russia and Britain have been trading barbs after London defied Moscow's demand to close British Council offices in two Russian regions.

In London, the head of the British diplomatic service met Russian ambassador Yuri Fedotov. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the message to Fedotov would be that the only losers from the "attack" on the British Council would be the Russian government's reputation and its people.