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Ex-KGB officer 'poisoned in UK' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Scotland Yard is investigating the alleged poisoning of a Russian former security agent, and critic of President Putin, living in exile in Britain. | |
Alexander Litvinenko, said to be a former colonel in the KGB, is thought to have fallen seriously ill after visiting a bar in London this month. | |
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the alleged victim was in a serious but stable condition in hospital. | A Scotland Yard spokesman said the alleged victim was in a serious but stable condition in hospital. |
Reports claim the deadly metal thallium was used in the alleged attack. | |
Moscow murder | Moscow murder |
Mr Litvinenko was said to have been at the bar, in London's Piccadilly, meeting a contact. | |
It is thought he had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in Moscow last month. | |
Ms Politkovskaya, a harsh critic of President Vladimir Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, was gunned down in her apartment building. | Ms Politkovskaya, a harsh critic of President Vladimir Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, was gunned down in her apartment building. |
Anna Politkovskaya once fled to Austria after receiving threats | Anna Politkovskaya once fled to Austria after receiving threats |
She was an investigative reporter for newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was one of the few Russian journalists to write about alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya. | She was an investigative reporter for newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was one of the few Russian journalists to write about alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya. |
She had received death threats in the past and suspicions were immediately raised that her death was a contract killing. | She had received death threats in the past and suspicions were immediately raised that her death was a contract killing. |
Ms Politkovskaya became ill with food-poisoning on her way to report on the Beslan school siege in 2004, which some believed to be an attempt on her life. | Ms Politkovskaya became ill with food-poisoning on her way to report on the Beslan school siege in 2004, which some believed to be an attempt on her life. |
In 2001, she fled to Vienna, Austria, after receiving e-mail threats claiming a Russian police officer she had accused of committing atrocities against civilians wanted to take his revenge. | In 2001, she fled to Vienna, Austria, after receiving e-mail threats claiming a Russian police officer she had accused of committing atrocities against civilians wanted to take his revenge. |
Two weeks after the killing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met relatives and colleagues of Ms Politkovskaya during a visit to Moscow. | Two weeks after the killing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met relatives and colleagues of Ms Politkovskaya during a visit to Moscow. |
Ms Rice said the fate of journalists in Russia was "a major concern". | Ms Rice said the fate of journalists in Russia was "a major concern". |