Russia puts British reporter on banned list-RIA

MOSCOW Feb 8 (Reuters) - Russia has placed a British reporter for the Guardian newspaper on a list of people who are banned from entering Russia, state news agency RIA cited an unidentified law enforcement source as saying on Tuesday.

Guardian correspondent Luke Harding was refused entry at passport control in Moscow this weekend, had his visa annulled and was put on a plane back to Britain, his newspaper said.

"Harding was not given entry to Russian territory on the demand of one Russian structure," the unidentified source told RIA, adding that Harding was now on a list of people whose presence in Russia was deemed undesirable. No reason was given.

The Guardian said that Harding may have been expelled for reporting on leaked U.S. diplomatic cables that contained unflattering descriptions of the Russia's leadership, though Harding was not alone in reporting on those cables. (Writing by Lidia Kelly, editing by Guy Faulconbridge)