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05/12/2006
British police continue Litvinenko investigation in Moscow
British police officers investigating the death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko have arrived in Moscow to continue their inquiry.
The officers are planning to interview several witnesses - reported to include three Russian businessmen who met with Mr Litvinenko in London and Mikhail Trepashkin, a former KGB agent who was jailed for revealing state secrets - during their trip, which could last for several weeks.
It is understood that a room in the British embassy in Moscow is also being tested for traces of the radiation found in Mr Litvinenko's body, as a precautionary measure.
The 43-year-old former KGB colonel died in hospital in London on November 23, after falling ill earlier in the month. A major dose of the radioactive substance polonium 210 was found in his body.
Traces of polonium 210 have since been found in several locations across London, including the sushi restaurant where he had a meeting with Italian academic Mario Scaramella.
Mr Scaramella, who is involved in an Italian inquiry into KGB activity in the country, is currently under observation by doctors after also testing positive for polonium 210, although he is not showing any symptoms of poisoning as Mr Litvinenko did.
It has also been revealed that two more locations in London are being tested in the Litvinenko inquiry.
It is understood that they are the Parkes Hotel in Beaufort Gardens in Knightsbridge and an office in Cavendish Place.
Tests conducted at another location, the Best Western Hotel in Shaftesbury Avenue, found no traces of radiation.
On Tuesday, Russian prosecutors said that they intended to question former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi, who also met with Mr Litvinenko in London. He has denied any involvement in his death.
The prosecutors also announced that Russia would not extradite any suspects in the case to Britain to stand trial.
Speculation is mounting that diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia have become strained because of the case.
Friends of Mr Litvinenko have claimed that he was poisoned on the orders of the Russian government - claims that have been dismissed by the Kremlin as "sheer nonsense". Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, have also denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death.
The Health Protection Agency have confirmed that more than 3,000 people have now called the NHS Direct line following the radiation scare. Of that number, 179 have been followed up for further investigation with 27 people being referred to a specialist clinic as a precautionary measure.
Seventy urine samples, taken mainly from medical staff and ambulance workers, have also been tested but all have been found negative.
(KMcA)
The officers are planning to interview several witnesses - reported to include three Russian businessmen who met with Mr Litvinenko in London and Mikhail Trepashkin, a former KGB agent who was jailed for revealing state secrets - during their trip, which could last for several weeks.
It is understood that a room in the British embassy in Moscow is also being tested for traces of the radiation found in Mr Litvinenko's body, as a precautionary measure.
The 43-year-old former KGB colonel died in hospital in London on November 23, after falling ill earlier in the month. A major dose of the radioactive substance polonium 210 was found in his body.
Traces of polonium 210 have since been found in several locations across London, including the sushi restaurant where he had a meeting with Italian academic Mario Scaramella.
Mr Scaramella, who is involved in an Italian inquiry into KGB activity in the country, is currently under observation by doctors after also testing positive for polonium 210, although he is not showing any symptoms of poisoning as Mr Litvinenko did.
It has also been revealed that two more locations in London are being tested in the Litvinenko inquiry.
It is understood that they are the Parkes Hotel in Beaufort Gardens in Knightsbridge and an office in Cavendish Place.
Tests conducted at another location, the Best Western Hotel in Shaftesbury Avenue, found no traces of radiation.
On Tuesday, Russian prosecutors said that they intended to question former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi, who also met with Mr Litvinenko in London. He has denied any involvement in his death.
The prosecutors also announced that Russia would not extradite any suspects in the case to Britain to stand trial.
Speculation is mounting that diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia have become strained because of the case.
Friends of Mr Litvinenko have claimed that he was poisoned on the orders of the Russian government - claims that have been dismissed by the Kremlin as "sheer nonsense". Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, have also denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death.
The Health Protection Agency have confirmed that more than 3,000 people have now called the NHS Direct line following the radiation scare. Of that number, 179 have been followed up for further investigation with 27 people being referred to a specialist clinic as a precautionary measure.
Seventy urine samples, taken mainly from medical staff and ambulance workers, have also been tested but all have been found negative.
(KMcA)
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19 July 2007
Russia to expel four British diplomats
Russia will expel four UK diplomats as the row over their refusal to extradite the man suspected of murdering Alexander Litvinenko. The diplomats will have to leave Russia within ten days and visa applications for British officials are also set to be restricted.
Russia to expel four British diplomats
Russia will expel four UK diplomats as the row over their refusal to extradite the man suspected of murdering Alexander Litvinenko. The diplomats will have to leave Russia within ten days and visa applications for British officials are also set to be restricted.
06 December 2006
Italian leaves hospital following radiation tests
Mario Scaramella, the Italian academic who met with former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko on the day he fell ill, has reportedly left hospital. Mr Scaramella had been under observation in hospital after testing positive for polonium 210 - the same substance which was found in the body of Mr Litvinenko who died in hospital on November 23.
Italian leaves hospital following radiation tests
Mario Scaramella, the Italian academic who met with former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko on the day he fell ill, has reportedly left hospital. Mr Scaramella had been under observation in hospital after testing positive for polonium 210 - the same substance which was found in the body of Mr Litvinenko who died in hospital on November 23.
03 April 2007
Campaign launched in memory of Alexander Litvinenko
A campaign has been launched by the widow and friends of murdered former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in his name. The Litvinenko Justice Foundation aims to put pressure on both the British and Russian governments to find those responsible for Mr Litvinenko's death.
Campaign launched in memory of Alexander Litvinenko
A campaign has been launched by the widow and friends of murdered former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in his name. The Litvinenko Justice Foundation aims to put pressure on both the British and Russian governments to find those responsible for Mr Litvinenko's death.
16 July 2007
Russian diplomats expelled from UK
The government has announced that four Russian diplomats will be expelled from the country's embassy in London following Moscow's refusal to extradite the main suspect in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
Russian diplomats expelled from UK
The government has announced that four Russian diplomats will be expelled from the country's embassy in London following Moscow's refusal to extradite the main suspect in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
23 May 2007
Talks continue over Litvinenko murder
Diplomatic negotiations are continuing between the UK and Russia in an attempt to secure the extradition of a former KGB officer accused of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it has enough evidence to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko.
Talks continue over Litvinenko murder
Diplomatic negotiations are continuing between the UK and Russia in an attempt to secure the extradition of a former KGB officer accused of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it has enough evidence to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
