The Russian President Vladimir Putin is in a round of talks with Tony Blair today as the two examined measures to counter terrorism.

Mr Putin visited COBR, the Government's crisis management centre where emergency responses to terrorism are co-ordinated.

But central to today's agenda are discussions on bilateral and international cooperation on counter terrorism measures.

The Russian President has received a presentation from security experts from the British Intelligence community including the Metropolitan Police, the Security Service and the Secret Intelligence Service.

In a joint statement on counter terrorism, Mr Putin and Mr Blair said: "Our countries have both suffered at first hand the cruelty and inhumanity of terrorism. In July, London was struck by a series of terrorist bombs that claimed 52 victims. And in September last year over 330 people - most of them children - were killed in the terrorist atrocity at Beslan. Today, we reaffirm our utter condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, and our determination to strengthen existing co-operation to fight this common scourge.

"When we met in December 2001, we launched the UK-Russia Joint Working Group on International Terrorism in order to deepen our collaboration in practical ways. Today, we received a report on recent co-operation in bilateral and multilateral fora, including our close work on the text of the resolution on inciting terrorist acts, which was recently unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council."

The leaders resolved to continue to increase practical co-operation between the two nations' security agencies.

The last visit by Mr Putin to Downing street was over two years ago. Since then, there has been a cooling of relations. Russian authorities were outraged when extradition requests for two outspoken Russian dissidents, critical of the administration, were refused by the UK.

Earlier today, Mr Putin presented awards to the British team who assisted in the rescue of a Russian mini-submarine in August.

The team used a submersible robot to free the Priz rescue submarine with seven aboard, after it became entangled in lines at a depth of 190m during exercises off the Kamchatka peninsula in the Pacific.

Also on the agenda for today's meeting are trade talks. Europe is keen to source more energy supplies, including natural gas from Russia.

(SP/KMcA)