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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Interpol joins Litvinenko inquiry | Interpol joins Litvinenko inquiry |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Interpol has joined the investigation into the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, officials say. | Interpol has joined the investigation into the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, officials say. |
| "Co-operation has already begun," Interpol's Russian office chief Timur Lakhonin said in Moscow. | "Co-operation has already begun," Interpol's Russian office chief Timur Lakhonin said in Moscow. |
| He said Interpol was providing "speedy exchange of information" between police in Britain, Russia and Germany, who had already launched their own inquiries. | He said Interpol was providing "speedy exchange of information" between police in Britain, Russia and Germany, who had already launched their own inquiries. |
| Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in a London hospital last month - it is suspected he was poisoned by polonium-210. | Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in a London hospital last month - it is suspected he was poisoned by polonium-210. |
| Interpol, which has 186 member countries around the globe, facilitates cross-border police co-operation. | Interpol, which has 186 member countries around the globe, facilitates cross-border police co-operation. |
| Following the polonium trail | Following the polonium trail |
| It is hoped that its involvement in the Litvinenko case could speed up the exchange of information between detectives in the three countries involved and also make it easier for them to obtain evidence and testimony. | It is hoped that its involvement in the Litvinenko case could speed up the exchange of information between detectives in the three countries involved and also make it easier for them to obtain evidence and testimony. |
| Contacts questioned | Contacts questioned |
| British investigators have already travelled to Moscow to question those who met Mr Litvinenko in a London hotel on 1 November - the day he fell ill. | |
| Andrei Lugovoi has been questioned by police in Moscow Litvinenko case: Key names Germany gripped by spy story | Andrei Lugovoi has been questioned by police in Moscow Litvinenko case: Key names Germany gripped by spy story |
| Andrei Lugovoi - a KGB officer-turned-businessman - was interviewed on Monday in a Moscow hospital where he is undergoing medical checks after traces of polonium-210 had been reportedly found in his body. | Andrei Lugovoi - a KGB officer-turned-businessman - was interviewed on Monday in a Moscow hospital where he is undergoing medical checks after traces of polonium-210 had been reportedly found in his body. |
| Mr Lugovoi - who denies any involvement - said afterwards that he was questioned as a witness. | Mr Lugovoi - who denies any involvement - said afterwards that he was questioned as a witness. |
| Dmitry Kovtun - another man who met Mr Litvinenko on 1 November - has also been questioned by British and Russian detectives. | Dmitry Kovtun - another man who met Mr Litvinenko on 1 November - has also been questioned by British and Russian detectives. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Kovtun - who has been hospitalised with radiation poisoning in a Moscow hospital - told Russia's Channel One TV that his "health was improving". | On Tuesday, Mr Kovtun - who has been hospitalised with radiation poisoning in a Moscow hospital - told Russia's Channel One TV that his "health was improving". |
| The former KGB officer is being investigated by German detectives on suspicion of plutonium smuggling into Germany in October. | The former KGB officer is being investigated by German detectives on suspicion of plutonium smuggling into Germany in October. |
| But in a separate interview, Mr Kovtun said he had been contaminated by Mr Litvinenko in London weeks before the latter fell fatally ill. | But in a separate interview, Mr Kovtun said he had been contaminated by Mr Litvinenko in London weeks before the latter fell fatally ill. |
| "I have only one explanation for the presence of polonium," Mr Kovtun told Spiegel TV. | "I have only one explanation for the presence of polonium," Mr Kovtun told Spiegel TV. |
| "It is that I brought it back from London, where I met Alexander Litvinenko on October 16, 17 and 18," he said. | "It is that I brought it back from London, where I met Alexander Litvinenko on October 16, 17 and 18," he said. |
| However, British detectives reportedly found no radiation on a bus ticket Mr Litvinenko used to get to the meeting at the London hotel on 1 November. | However, British detectives reportedly found no radiation on a bus ticket Mr Litvinenko used to get to the meeting at the London hotel on 1 November. |
| If confirmed, this implies that Mr Litvinenko was not contaminated before the meeting. | If confirmed, this implies that Mr Litvinenko was not contaminated before the meeting. |
| In Germany, four people close to Mr Kovtun - his ex-wife, her partner and two children living in or near Hamburg - are still undergoing tests for possible radiation contamination. | In Germany, four people close to Mr Kovtun - his ex-wife, her partner and two children living in or near Hamburg - are still undergoing tests for possible radiation contamination. |
| According to German police, the four have shown signs of contamination after Mr Kovtun stayed at his ex-wife's flat before flying to London. | According to German police, the four have shown signs of contamination after Mr Kovtun stayed at his ex-wife's flat before flying to London. |
| He denies any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death. | He denies any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death. |
| 'Whistleblower missing' | 'Whistleblower missing' |
| Russian investigators, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing to travel to London to question witnesses. | Russian investigators, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing to travel to London to question witnesses. |
| Mr Litvinenko's widow earlier said she would not assist the Russian inquiry. | Mr Litvinenko's widow earlier said she would not assist the Russian inquiry. |
| Friends of Mr Litvinenko believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Russian government since defecting to the UK, but the Kremlin has dismissed suggestions it was involved in any way. | Friends of Mr Litvinenko believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Russian government since defecting to the UK, but the Kremlin has dismissed suggestions it was involved in any way. |
| Russia's foreign intelligence service has also issued a statement denying any involvement. | Russia's foreign intelligence service has also issued a statement denying any involvement. |
| THE POLONIUM TRAIL London 1 Emirates Stadium: Traces of polonium-210 found at Arsenal's ground, where ex-KGB man Vyacheslav Sokolenko attended a match during his stay at the Millennium Hotel2 University College Hospital, where Litvinenko died on 23 November. Mario Scaramella, who met Litvinenko at sushi bar, also examined there3 Central London: Litvinenko met contacts at Millennium Hotel and Itsu sushi bar on 1 Nov - polonium-210 traces found in both places4 Heathrow Airport: Polonium-210 traces found in three aircraft frequently used in flights between London and Moscow, since given all-clear | THE POLONIUM TRAIL London 1 Emirates Stadium: Traces of polonium-210 found at Arsenal's ground, where ex-KGB man Vyacheslav Sokolenko attended a match during his stay at the Millennium Hotel2 University College Hospital, where Litvinenko died on 23 November. Mario Scaramella, who met Litvinenko at sushi bar, also examined there3 Central London: Litvinenko met contacts at Millennium Hotel and Itsu sushi bar on 1 Nov - polonium-210 traces found in both places4 Heathrow Airport: Polonium-210 traces found in three aircraft frequently used in flights between London and Moscow, since given all-clear |
| Moscow Traces of polonium-210 found on a Finnish plane and at British embassy, visited by Andrei Lugovoi, one of those who met Litvinenko in LondonAnother contact Litvinenko met at Millennium Hotel - Dmitry Kovtun - treated for radiation poisoning Hamburg More polonium-210 traces found in flat of Kovtun's ex-wife, where he had stayed before flying to London, in a car he used and at his mother-in-law's homeShe, her new partner and her two children are contaminated | Moscow Traces of polonium-210 found on a Finnish plane and at British embassy, visited by Andrei Lugovoi, one of those who met Litvinenko in LondonAnother contact Litvinenko met at Millennium Hotel - Dmitry Kovtun - treated for radiation poisoning Hamburg More polonium-210 traces found in flat of Kovtun's ex-wife, where he had stayed before flying to London, in a car he used and at his mother-in-law's homeShe, her new partner and her two children are contaminated |
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