BBC
Monday, November 27, 2006

Traces of radiation have been found at two more addresses following the death of Alexander Litvinenko, police say.
The traces of polonium-210 were found at a building in Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, and an office block in Down Street, west London, they said.

Traces had already been found at a London hotel and a sushi bar the Russian ex-spy visited on 1 November.

Three people who have either been to the venues or had contact with him are to undergo radiological tests.

Emergency statement

The death of the 43-year-old former KGB colonel last Thursday has been linked to the discovery of polonium-210 in his body.

Home Secretary John Reid told MPs that Russia had been asked to co-operate in the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's death.

In an emergency statement in the Commons on Monday, Mr Reid said the Russian ambassador had been called to the Foreign Office at the end of last week.

"He was asked to convey to the Russian authorities our expectation that they should be ready to offer all necessary co-operation to the investigation as it proceeds," said Mr Reid.

Mr Reid also chaired Monday's meeting of the special emergency "Cobra" committee, which brings together ministers, officials and experts, to assess the risk to the public.

It is not yet clear whether the two latest discoveries of radiation in London relate to its possible origin or the movements of Mr Litvinenko.

The Health Protection Agency said more than 450 people had called a government hotline for advice and 18 had been followed up.

Three have been referred to a specialist clinic as a precautionary measure because they had symptoms which may indicate radiation poisoning.

It is thought they contacted the NHS helpline and answered detailed questions about their condition before being referred for a face-to-face consultation and possible urine test.

Results are expected later in the week.

Kremlin denial

An inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death will be opened and adjourned on Thursday at St Pancras Coroner's Court, said a Camden Council spokesman.

Mr Litvinenko, 43, became a British citizen after coming to live in the UK.

Friends have suggested Russian top-level involvement in his death because Mr Litvinenko was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And on Sunday Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said "murky murders" had cast a shadow over Mr Putin's achievements.

But the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed allegations of involvement in the death as "sheer nonsense".

Asked about Mr Hain's comments, Tony Blair's official spokesman said the prime minister had made clear his concerns about some aspects of human rights in Russia but it would be premature to draw conclusions in this case.

Mr Litvinenko had been investigating the murder of prominent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government, before he fell ill.

On the day he was taken ill, he had had meetings at the Itsu restaurant in Piccadilly and the Millennium Hotel's Pine Bar - traces of radiation have since been found at both venues.