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Ex-Russian spy dies in hospital Russian ex-spy dies in hospital
(about 2 hours later)
Alexander Litvinenko, the ex-Russian spy who said he was the victim of a poisoning, has died in hospital. Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian ex-spy who said he was the victim of a poisoning, has died in hospital.
Mr Litvinenko, 43, died on Thursday evening and the cause of his condition is still being investigated, said University College Hospital, London.Mr Litvinenko, 43, died on Thursday evening and the cause of his condition is still being investigated, said University College Hospital, London.
Scotland Yard said officers were now investigating "an unexplained death".Scotland Yard said officers were now investigating "an unexplained death".
Friends say the former KGB agent was poisoned three weeks ago because of his criticism of the Russian government. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.Friends say the former KGB agent was poisoned three weeks ago because of his criticism of the Russian government. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.
DefectorDefector
Alex Goldfarb, speaking on behalf of Mr Litvinenko's family outside the hospital, said: "We are all shocked and horrified at this terrible crime. Tonight is a night of mourning." Friend Andrei Nekrasov told the Associated Press agency Mr Litvinenko's wife Marina, father Walter and his 10-year son Anatoli were by his side when he died.
He added that his friend had died with "a clear conscience, a clear heart and with dignity". Alex Goldfarb, speaking on behalf of Mr Litvinenko's family outside the hospital, said his death was a "terrible crime".
Mr Litvinenko, who defected to the UK in 2000 and was later granted asylum after claiming persecution and took citizenship, fell ill on November 1 after a series of meetings in central London.
LITVINENKO TIMELINE 1 Nov - Alexander Litvinenko meets two Russian men at a London hotel - one a former KGB officer. Later, he meets Italian academic Mario Scaramella at a sushi bar in Piccadilly. Hours later he falls ill17 Nov - Mr Litvinenko is transferred to University College Hospital, London. He is placed under armed guard19 Nov - Reports say Mr Litvinenko has been poisoned with thallium, a chemical once used to kill rats21 Nov - A toxicologist treating Mr Litvinenko says he may have been poisoned with "radioactive thallium"22 Nov - Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorates overnight. Thallium and radiation are ruled out as the cause of his sickness23 Nov - The ex-spy dies in intensive care Profile: Alexander Litvinenko Timeline of case in fullLITVINENKO TIMELINE 1 Nov - Alexander Litvinenko meets two Russian men at a London hotel - one a former KGB officer. Later, he meets Italian academic Mario Scaramella at a sushi bar in Piccadilly. Hours later he falls ill17 Nov - Mr Litvinenko is transferred to University College Hospital, London. He is placed under armed guard19 Nov - Reports say Mr Litvinenko has been poisoned with thallium, a chemical once used to kill rats21 Nov - A toxicologist treating Mr Litvinenko says he may have been poisoned with "radioactive thallium"22 Nov - Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorates overnight. Thallium and radiation are ruled out as the cause of his sickness23 Nov - The ex-spy dies in intensive care Profile: Alexander Litvinenko Timeline of case in full
He was initially admitted to Barnet General Hospital, north London, hours later before being transferred to University College Hospital on 17 November as his condition worsened. Russian dissident Oleg Gordievsky, a former KGB colonel and friend of Mr Litvinenko, maintained that the poisoning had been the work of the Russians.
His condition deteriorated further when he suffered a heart attack overnight on Wednesday and he died in intensive care. The Russian security service had "sent a man with a poisonous pill to Britain", put a pill into Mr Litvinenko's tea and killed him, he told BBC News.
Hospital spokesman Jim Down said: "Every avenue was explored to establish the cause of [Mr Litvinenko's] condition and the matter is now an ongoing investigation being dealt with by detectives from New Scotland Yard. A spokesman for Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, said it had nothing to add to its earlier denial of involvement.
"Because of this we will not be commenting any further on this matter. Our thoughts are with Mr Litvinenko's family." Meanwhile, Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the Russian Parliament foreign affairs committee, said accusations of Russian involvement in the poisoning were "completely ungrounded".
Mr Litvinenko had recently been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government. "Our special services don't do these sort of things," he said.
In an interview with Friday's Times newspaper, film-maker Andrei Nekrasov said he had spoken to Mr Litvinenko, a close friend, hours before he fell unconscious for the last time. "I can name a lot of people who are enemies of Russia and who would benefit from his death - people who would use it for their own political gain."
He said Mr Litvinenko told him: "I want to survive, just to show them. The bastards got me but they won't get everybody." Before Mr Litvinenko's death, police said they suspected "deliberate poisoning" was behind his illness. Anti-terrorism police are heading up the investigation.
Thallium theory
Initial reports from UCH at the weekend said Mr Litvinenko had been poisoned with the heavy metal thallium, but later it was suggested that some form of radioactive material may have been used.
Head of critical care at the hospital, Dr Geoff Bellingan, has subsequently dismissed both of these explanations.
HAVE YOUR SAY My sincere condolences go out to this poor man's family. I hope the truth about his death will one day be uncovered and shared with the world. Andy, London Send us your comments
Chemistry expert Dr Andrea Sella, of University College London, said: "[The doctors] have a problem. They have to find some unspecified poison and they don't know what it is.
"They don't know whether it is a single substance or a mixture."
Before Mr Litvinenko's death, police said they suspected "deliberate poisoning" was behind his illness and anti-terrorism police were heading up the investigation.
Investigators have been examining two meetings he had on 1 November - one at a London hotel with a former KGB agent and another man, and a later rendezvous with Italian security consultant Mario Scaramella at a sushi restaurant in London's West End.Investigators have been examining two meetings he had on 1 November - one at a London hotel with a former KGB agent and another man, and a later rendezvous with Italian security consultant Mario Scaramella at a sushi restaurant in London's West End.
Mr Scaramella, who is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into Russian secret service activity, said he organised the meeting because he wanted to discuss an e-mail he had received.Mr Scaramella, who is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into Russian secret service activity, said he organised the meeting because he wanted to discuss an e-mail he had received.
Both the Kremlin and Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, have denied any part in poisoning Mr Litvinenko, who was a former security agent with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Heart attack
Mr Litvinenko defected to the UK in 2000, claiming persecution. He was later granted asylum and reportedly recently took citizenship.
He fell ill on 1 November after a series of meetings in central London.
HAVE YOUR SAY My sincere condolences go out to this poor man's family. I hope the truth about his death will one day be uncovered and shared with the world. Andy, London Send us your comments
What caused his illness and death is still unclear.
Initial reports from UCH at the weekend said he had been poisoned with the heavy metal thallium, but later it was suggested that some form of radioactive material may have been used.
Head of critical care at the hospital, Dr Geoff Bellingan, has subsequently dismissed both of these explanations.
Mr Litvinenko had recently been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government.
In an interview with Friday's Times newspaper, film-maker Andrei Nekrasov said that, before he fell unconscious for the last time, his friend had told him: "I want to survive, just to show them. The bastards got me but they won't get everybody."