The United States has asked Moscow to expel or deport the Kurdish rebel leader, Abdullah Ocalan, if he is found to be in hiding on Russian territory.

A State Department spokesman James Rubin said no nation should give sanctuary to terrorists.

The request follows an appeal by the lower house of the Russian parliament asking President Yeltsin to offer political asylum to Mr Ocalan, whose group, the PKK, is fighting for an independent homeland in southeast Turkey.

Turkey has asked for him to be extradited, but Russian officials say they have no evidence to support Turkish claims that he is in Russia.