LONDON, June 24: Britain laid on a sumptuous royal welcome on Tuesday for the first Russian state visit since 1874, with President Vladimir Putin hoping to mend fences and win business now the Iraq war is over.

Mr Putin will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair privately for only 30 minutes during his four-day visit to London and Edinburgh, but the two men will have other opportunities to chat at royal ceremonies and an energy conference.

The president’s visit may bring finalization of a 6.75 billion dollar deal, in which oil company BP would buy a 50 per cent stake in TNK, Russia’s third largest oil company.—Reuters