Russian agencies search TNK-BP headquarters-sources

MOSCOW, March 19 (Reuters) - Russian law enforcement agencies were on Wednesday searching the headquarters of Russian oil firm TNK-BP TNBPI.RTS, half owned by BP Plc (BP.L), industry sources told Reuters.

The company declined to comment.

"Searches began this morning and are still continuing," one of the sources said. The reason for the searches was not immediately clear.

One source said the searches were being conducted by the Federal Security Service, main successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB secret police.

TNK-BP is half owned by a group of Russian billionaire shareholders. Many analysts have said they were likely to sell out this year to a state-controlled company. The owners have repeadedly denied such plans. (Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by Christian Lowe)