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| Ex-KGB officer 'poisoned in UK' | Ex-KGB officer 'poisoned in UK' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| UK police are investigating the alleged poisoning of a Russian former security agent and critic of President Vladimir Putin living in exile in Britain. | UK police are investigating the alleged poisoning of a Russian former security agent and critic of President Vladimir Putin living in exile in Britain. |
| Alexander Litvinenko, a former colonel in the KGB, told the BBC he fell ill after meeting a contact at a London sushi bar on 1 November. | |
| Police say he is in a serious but stable condition in University College Hospital, central London. | |
| The highly-toxic metal thallium was reportedly used in the alleged attack. | The highly-toxic metal thallium was reportedly used in the alleged attack. |
| Several hours after the meeting, I started to feel sick Alexander Litvinenko, former Russian agent | Several hours after the meeting, I started to feel sick Alexander Litvinenko, former Russian agent |
| He said he had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in Moscow last month. | He said he had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed in Moscow last month. |
| Mr Litvinenko told the BBC last week, before his condition deteriorated, that the contact had approached him and said they should talk, and they arranged to meet at the restaurant in Piccadilly. | Mr Litvinenko told the BBC last week, before his condition deteriorated, that the contact had approached him and said they should talk, and they arranged to meet at the restaurant in Piccadilly. |
| "He gave me some papers which contained some names on it - perhaps names of those who may have been involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, and several hours after the meeting I started to feel sick." | "He gave me some papers which contained some names on it - perhaps names of those who may have been involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, and several hours after the meeting I started to feel sick." |
| It was two weeks before he felt seriously ill and he was admitted to hospital. | It was two weeks before he felt seriously ill and he was admitted to hospital. |
| Police have confirmed the investigation. | Police have confirmed the investigation. |
| Anna Politkovskaya once fled to Austria after receiving threats | Anna Politkovskaya once fled to Austria after receiving threats |
| A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We can confirm that officers from the Specialist Crime Directorate are investigating a suspicious poisoning. | A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We can confirm that officers from the Specialist Crime Directorate are investigating a suspicious poisoning. |
| "There are no arrests and inquiries continue. His condition is serious but stable." | "There are no arrests and inquiries continue. His condition is serious but stable." |
| The chemical thallium attacks the nervous system, lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys. Hair loss, vomiting and diarrhoea are symptoms. | The chemical thallium attacks the nervous system, lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys. Hair loss, vomiting and diarrhoea are symptoms. |
| Death can occur after exposure to doses as small as one gram. | Death can occur after exposure to doses as small as one gram. |
| Gunned down | Gunned down |
| Friends says his life is not in danger but he is being kept in isolation and has lost his hair. | Friends says his life is not in danger but he is being kept in isolation and has lost his hair. |
| Ms Politkovskaya, a harsh critic of Mr Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, was gunned down in her Moscow apartment building. | Ms Politkovskaya, a harsh critic of Mr Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, was gunned down in her Moscow apartment building. |
| She was one of the few Russian journalists to write about alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya and had received death threats in the past. | She was one of the few Russian journalists to write about alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya and had received death threats in the past. |
| Ms Politkovskaya became ill with food-poisoning on her way to report on the Beslan school siege in 2004, which some believed may have been 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 may have been an attempt on her life. |
| In 2001, she fled to Vienna, Austria, after receiving e-mail threats and later returned to Russia before her death. | In 2001, she fled to Vienna, Austria, after receiving e-mail threats and later returned to Russia before her death. |
| 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". |