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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Police hand over Litvinenko file | Police hand over Litvinenko file |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland Yard has handed a file on the investigation into the death of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko to the Crown Prosecution Service. | Scotland Yard has handed a file on the investigation into the death of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko to the Crown Prosecution Service. |
| The 43-year-old, a fierce critic of the Kremlin, died in hospital in London in November. His body contained the radioactive substance polonium-210. | The 43-year-old, a fierce critic of the Kremlin, died in hospital in London in November. His body contained the radioactive substance polonium-210. |
| The BBC's Frank Gardner said the "finger of suspicion" pointed "clearly" at former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi. | The BBC's Frank Gardner said the "finger of suspicion" pointed "clearly" at former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi. |
| But Mr Lugovoi said he had been a victim of radiation poisoning. | But Mr Lugovoi said he had been a victim of radiation poisoning. |
| Mr Lugovoi has been at the centre of the investigation into the poisoning due to the radiation trail that has followed him. | |
| I consider myself to be a victim in this case because me, my friends and my family were attacked in the UK Andrei Lugovoi | I consider myself to be a victim in this case because me, my friends and my family were attacked in the UK Andrei Lugovoi |
| Police have said they cannot reveal the contents of the file. | Police have said they cannot reveal the contents of the file. |
| But Mr Gardner, the BBC's security correspondent, said Mr Litvinenko is thought to have consumed tea contaminated with polonium-210 while with Mr Lugovoi and two other Russians at the Millennium hotel on 1 November. | But Mr Gardner, the BBC's security correspondent, said Mr Litvinenko is thought to have consumed tea contaminated with polonium-210 while with Mr Lugovoi and two other Russians at the Millennium hotel on 1 November. |
| Our correspondent said the case against Mr Lugovoi was yet to be disclosed, but is thought to rest on forensic evidence. | Our correspondent said the case against Mr Lugovoi was yet to be disclosed, but is thought to rest on forensic evidence. |
| He said: "The investigators believe they have now identified the probable poisoner. | He said: "The investigators believe they have now identified the probable poisoner. |
| "What they don't know, and probably never will know, is who ultimately ordered the murder of Alexander Litvinenko." | "What they don't know, and probably never will know, is who ultimately ordered the murder of Alexander Litvinenko." |
| However, our correspondent said the chances of him being extradited are thought to be slim. | However, our correspondent said the chances of him being extradited are thought to be slim. |
| Sufficient evidence? | Sufficient evidence? |
| When the claims were put to Mr Lugovoi he said he was innocent and is also a victim. | When the claims were put to Mr Lugovoi he said he was innocent and is also a victim. |
| "As far as I'm concerned, I'm still a witness and not a suspect, he said." | "As far as I'm concerned, I'm still a witness and not a suspect, he said." |
| Mr Lugovoi went on: "When I do see or hear any official accusations, then I'll be happy to answer those. | Mr Lugovoi went on: "When I do see or hear any official accusations, then I'll be happy to answer those. |
| "I consider myself to be a victim in this case because me, my friends and my family were attacked in the UK. | "I consider myself to be a victim in this case because me, my friends and my family were attacked in the UK. |
| "And now it is up to the British prosecutors to establish how it happened and who did it." | "And now it is up to the British prosecutors to establish how it happened and who did it." |
| Prosecutors will now consider whether there is sufficient evidence to charge anyone over Mr Litvinenko's death. | Prosecutors will now consider whether there is sufficient evidence to charge anyone over Mr Litvinenko's death. |
| Secret agents | Secret agents |
| Mr Litvinenko is reported to have fallen out with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the late 1990s. | Mr Litvinenko is reported to have fallen out with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the late 1990s. |
| At the end of last year, Scotland Yard officers travelled to Russia to question witnesses in the case. | At the end of last year, Scotland Yard officers travelled to Russia to question witnesses in the case. |
| Mr Litvinenko, a former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, met three other former Russian secret agents just before he fell ill in London - Mr Lugovoi, Dmitry Kovtun and Vyacheslav Sokolenko. | Mr Litvinenko, a former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, met three other former Russian secret agents just before he fell ill in London - Mr Lugovoi, Dmitry Kovtun and Vyacheslav Sokolenko. |
| They have denied any involvement in his poisoning. | They have denied any involvement in his poisoning. |
| Mr Litvinenko's friends have accused the Kremlin of ordering his assassination in response to his criticism of President Vladimir Putin. The Russian government has rejected the claims. | Mr Litvinenko's friends have accused the Kremlin of ordering his assassination in response to his criticism of President Vladimir Putin. The Russian government has rejected the claims. |