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| Terror police probe spy poisoning | Terror police probe spy poisoning |
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| Scotland Yard anti-terrorist officers have taken charge of the investigation into the poisoning by thallium of a former KGB colonel living in the UK. | Scotland Yard anti-terrorist officers have taken charge of the investigation into the poisoning by thallium of a former KGB colonel living in the UK. |
| Alexander Litvinenko, 41, is in intensive care at University College Hospital, London, where his condition is described as serious but stable. | Alexander Litvinenko, 41, is in intensive care at University College Hospital, London, where his condition is described as serious but stable. |
| The critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin fell ill on 1 November after a meeting at a London sushi bar. | The critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin fell ill on 1 November after a meeting at a London sushi bar. |
| The Kremlin has dismissed as "sheer nonsense" claims it was involved. | The Kremlin has dismissed as "sheer nonsense" claims it was involved. |
| Friends of Mr Litvinenko have alleged he was poisoned because he was critical of the Russian government. | Friends of Mr Litvinenko have alleged he was poisoned because he was critical of the Russian government. |
| We don't consider it possible to comment on the statements accusing the Kremlin because it is nothing but sheer nonsense Dmitry PeskovKremlin spokesman Profile: Alexander Litvinenko href="/1/hi/world/europe/6165482.stm" class="">Poisoning recalls Cold War href="/1/hi/uk/6163520.stm" class="">What is thallium? | |
| Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We cannot comment on the very fact of what happened to Litvinenko. | Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We cannot comment on the very fact of what happened to Litvinenko. |
| "We don't consider it possible to comment on the statements accusing the Kremlin because it is nothing but sheer nonsense." | "We don't consider it possible to comment on the statements accusing the Kremlin because it is nothing but sheer nonsense." |
| Russia's foreign intelligence service has issued a statement denying any involvement. | Russia's foreign intelligence service has issued a statement denying any involvement. |
| Tests awaited | Tests awaited |
| Mr Litvinenko had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, an outspoken critic of Mr Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, who was shot dead at her Moscow apartment building last month. | Mr Litvinenko had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, an outspoken critic of Mr Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, who was shot dead at her Moscow apartment building last month. |
| Mr Litvinenko fled to the UK in 2000 and was granted asylum | Mr Litvinenko fled to the UK in 2000 and was granted asylum |
| Doctors had told Mr Litvinenko he had a 50/50 chance of surviving the next three to four weeks, said Alex Goldfarb, who has been visiting him. | Doctors had told Mr Litvinenko he had a 50/50 chance of surviving the next three to four weeks, said Alex Goldfarb, who has been visiting him. |
| Scotland Yard said it was treating Mr Litvinenko's illness as a suspected "deliberate poisoning". | Scotland Yard said it was treating Mr Litvinenko's illness as a suspected "deliberate poisoning". |
| Officers are interviewing possible witnesses, including Mr Litvinenko, and examining CCTV footage, it said in a statement. | Officers are interviewing possible witnesses, including Mr Litvinenko, and examining CCTV footage, it said in a statement. |
| "We await the results of the toxicology tests and we are therefore not speculating as to the possible cause of his condition at this stage," the statement added. | "We await the results of the toxicology tests and we are therefore not speculating as to the possible cause of his condition at this stage," the statement added. |
| Speaking to the BBC last week about his investigation into the murder of Ms Politkovskaya, Mr Litvinenko said a contact had approached him to say they should talk, and they arranged to meet at a restaurant in Piccadilly on 1 November. | Speaking to the BBC last week about his investigation into the murder of Ms Politkovskaya, Mr Litvinenko said a contact had approached him to say they should talk, and they arranged to meet at a restaurant in Piccadilly on 1 November. |
| "He gave me some papers which contained some names - perhaps names of those who may have been involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya - and several hours after the meeting I started to feel sick," he said. | "He gave me some papers which contained some names - perhaps names of those who may have been involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya - and several hours after the meeting I started to feel sick," he said. |
| Two weeks later Mr Litvinenko was taken seriously ill and admitted to hospital. | Two weeks later Mr Litvinenko was taken seriously ill and admitted to hospital. |
| Clinical toxicologist John Henry said Mr Litvinenko was "quite seriously sick" and there was "no doubt" he had been poisoned by a potentially lethal dose of thallium, probably on 1 November. | Clinical toxicologist John Henry said Mr Litvinenko was "quite seriously sick" and there was "no doubt" he had been poisoned by a potentially lethal dose of thallium, probably on 1 November. |
| "It is tasteless, colourless, odourless. It takes about a gram - you know, a large pinch of salt like in your food - to kill you," he said. | "It is tasteless, colourless, odourless. It takes about a gram - you know, a large pinch of salt like in your food - to kill you," he said. |