This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21583528

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Litvinenko inquest: Government makes secrecy request Litvinenko inquest: Government trying to exclude MI6 details
(about 9 hours later)
A coroner is to hear an application by the government to keep some information secret at the forthcoming inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko. Foreign Secretary William Hague is trying to exclude details of Alexander Litvinenko's links to MI6, a pre-inquest legal review has been told.
The former Russian security service officer was poisoned by radioactive polonium in London in 2006. Mr Hague had identified a "risk of serious harm to the public" if certain material was disclosed, it heard.
Tuesday's hearing will consider an application for a broad Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate. The government is applying to keep some information secret at the forthcoming inquest into the Russian's death.
It is expected to be opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow as well as media organisations, including the BBC. Mr Litvinenko, an ex-Russian security service officer, was poisoned by radioactive polonium in London in 2006.
The PII certificate would exclude some information from the inquest when it opens later this year. The pre-inquest review, presided over by Sir Robert Owen, a judge sitting as coroner, is looking into the scope of the inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death. The inquest is due to begin on 1 May.
They are usually issued on the grounds of national security. The government's applications for a broad public interest immunity certificate (PII) would exclude some information from the inquest. They are usually issued on the grounds of national security.
At an earlier pre-inquest hearing the lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow said the Russian had been a paid agent of MI6 and argued the inquest should examine the secret service's relationship with him. Its application is being opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, as well as media organisations, including the BBC.
Sir Robert Owen, a judge acting as the coroner, has said he would examine what was known of threats to Mr Litvinenko's life and also whether the Russian state was responsible for his death. Mrs Litvinenko's barrister said the government's secret files were "delaying this inquest".
Ben Emmerson QC said it was "probable" Mr Litvinenko's death had involved the Russian state.
He also told the coroner he should not allow the process to be "bogged down" by the "government's attempt to keep a lid on the truth".
"We know nothing about why these applications are being made and we are dancing in the dark," he said, in reference to the PII application.
He suggested the British and Russian governments were conspiring to have the inquest shut down to preserve crucial trade deals.
"We cannot allow Her Majesty's Government, by misusing the PII system, to use this inquest to dance to the Russian tarantella," he added.
Spanish spies
At an earlier pre-inquest hearing, Mr Emmerson said the Russian had been a paid agent of MI6 and argued the inquest should examine the secret service's relationship with him.
Sir Robert has said he will examine what was known of threats to Mr Litvinenko's life and also whether the Russian state was responsible for his death.
The last pre-inquest hearing contained a major revelation - namely that Alexander Litvinenko had been a paid agent of MI6.The last pre-inquest hearing contained a major revelation - namely that Alexander Litvinenko had been a paid agent of MI6.
It raised the question over whether this work was linked to his death.It raised the question over whether this work was linked to his death.
That has pushed Litvinenko's relationship with British intelligence much higher up the agenda. That has pushed Mr Litvinenko's relationship with British intelligence much higher up the agenda.
But how much will we learn about that relationship?But how much will we learn about that relationship?
That's the subject of Tuesday's hearing in which the government is applying for a broad Public Interest Immunity Certificate which would mean that information considered sensitive could be excluded. That's the subject of Tuesday's hearing in which the government is applying for a broad public interest immunity certificate that would mean that information considered sensitive could be excluded.
He has also agreed that a group representing Russian state prosecutors can be accepted as a party to the inquest process. He has also agreed that a group representing Russian state prosecutors can be accepted as a party to the inquest process, which would allow it to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence.
A legal review, ahead of the inquest, has heard that Mr Litvinenko was working alongside Spanish spies for MI6 in the days before his death. And he raised concerns at Tuesday's hearing that the start date for the inquest may be missed "due to the complexity of the investigation which necessarily precedes the hearings".
British government documents that implied Russia was behind the 43-year old's murder were also revealed. The pre-inquest legal review has previously heard that Mr Litvinenko was working alongside Spanish spies for MI6 in the days before his death.
Moscow has previously denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death. British government documents that implied Russia was behind the 43-year old's death were also revealed. Moscow has denied any involvement.
The inquest is due to begin on 1 May. Mr Litvinenko died after ingesting the polonium-210 isotope, allegedly during a meeting at the Millennium Hotel in central London with ex-KGB contacts Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun.
Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 after ingesting the polonium-210 isotope, allegedly during a meeting at the Millennium Hotel in central London with ex-KGB contacts Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. Russia has refused to extradite main suspect Mr Lugovoi to the UK for questioning. He has also denied any involvement.
Russia has refused to extradite main suspect Mr Lugovoi to the UK for questioning. Neil Garnham, representing the Home Office, has told the review he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether Mr Litvinenko had been employed by British intelligence.
Neil Garnham, representing the Home Office, told the review he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether Mr Litvinenko was employed by British intelligence. Proceedings were adjourned until Wednesday when Sir Robert is expected to announce whether the government should be required to shed light on the nature of the evidence it aims to conceal.
The Kremlin has indicated it would like to become an interested party in the inquest, which would allow representatives of the Russian state to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence.