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Dead spy's contact doing 'well' Dead spy's contact doing 'well'
(10 minutes later)
A contact of Alexander Litvinenko who tested positive for the same substance found in the Russian's body has shown no evidence of "radiation toxicity".A contact of Alexander Litvinenko who tested positive for the same substance found in the Russian's body has shown no evidence of "radiation toxicity".
Mario Scaramella is "well" and preliminary tests have shown he is not showing signs of illness, University College Hospital said.Mario Scaramella is "well" and preliminary tests have shown he is not showing signs of illness, University College Hospital said.
The Italian was one of the last people to have met ex-spy Mr Litvinenko before his death.The Italian was one of the last people to have met ex-spy Mr Litvinenko before his death.
Officials had previously said he tested positive for traces of polonium-210.Officials had previously said he tested positive for traces of polonium-210.
Mr Litvinenko's wife Marina is also said to have been "very slightly contaminated" but is not ill.Mr Litvinenko's wife Marina is also said to have been "very slightly contaminated" but is not ill.
Health officials stressed the public were in no way at risk, despite two people connected with Mr Litvinenko testing positive for radiation exposure.Health officials stressed the public were in no way at risk, despite two people connected with Mr Litvinenko testing positive for radiation exposure.
'Co-operate fully' 'No concerns'
Easyjet has confirmed that Mr Scaramella flew on flight 3506 from Naples to Stansted on 31 October and also on flight 3505 from Stansted to Naples on 3 November.Easyjet has confirmed that Mr Scaramella flew on flight 3506 from Naples to Stansted on 31 October and also on flight 3505 from Stansted to Naples on 3 November.
The airline said it was in touch with all the relevant authorities and would "co-operate fully" if it was advised to start tracing passengers. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it had no "public health concerns" about those flights.
Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said all three British Airways planes at the centre of the polonium-210 scare have been given the all-clear and are able to return to service. It also said all three British Airways planes at the centre of the polonium-210 scare have been given the all-clear and are able to return to service.
The airline has been trying to contact 33,000 passengers from 221 flights after traces of the radioactive material were found on two if its planes.The airline has been trying to contact 33,000 passengers from 221 flights after traces of the radioactive material were found on two if its planes.
Low riskLow risk
HPA chief executive Pat Troop said: "People should be reassured that we're not allowing anything to be open if we are not content about it."HPA chief executive Pat Troop said: "People should be reassured that we're not allowing anything to be open if we are not content about it."
The agency said the levels of polonium-210 discovered in Mrs Litvinenko were "not significant enough to result in any illness in the short term and any increased risk in the long term was likely to be very small".The agency said the levels of polonium-210 discovered in Mrs Litvinenko were "not significant enough to result in any illness in the short term and any increased risk in the long term was likely to be very small".
Mr Litvinenko's wife, Marina, was slightly contaminatedMr Litvinenko's wife, Marina, was slightly contaminated
Professor Anthony Glees, from the Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies at Brunel University, told BBC Five Live that MI5 were taking what had happened very seriously.Professor Anthony Glees, from the Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies at Brunel University, told BBC Five Live that MI5 were taking what had happened very seriously.
He said "the fact that you could get it onto planes despite all the security measures that we all go through every time we fly, is causing very serious disquiet".He said "the fact that you could get it onto planes despite all the security measures that we all go through every time we fly, is causing very serious disquiet".
Mr Scaramella met Mr Litvinenko, who had been a critic of the Russian government since defecting to the UK, at a sushi restaurant in central London on 1 November.Mr Scaramella met Mr Litvinenko, who had been a critic of the Russian government since defecting to the UK, at a sushi restaurant in central London on 1 November.
Moscow denial
It was later that day that Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, fell ill.
Russian defence minister Sergey Ivanov said Moscow was ready to help investigate his death and that there was no evidence to implicate the Russian secret service, the FSB (formerly the KGB).Russian defence minister Sergey Ivanov said Moscow was ready to help investigate his death and that there was no evidence to implicate the Russian secret service, the FSB (formerly the KGB).
He said he did not see "any grounds for speculation which is currently being actively spread in the Western mass media alleging that this is the long arm of the KGB and FSB and that Litvinenko knew too much because he was a prominent intelligence officer, which is completely untrue.He said he did not see "any grounds for speculation which is currently being actively spread in the Western mass media alleging that this is the long arm of the KGB and FSB and that Litvinenko knew too much because he was a prominent intelligence officer, which is completely untrue.
"Naturally, a most thorough and unbiased investigation is needed, and I am confident that it will be carried out. Russia is ready to offer any kind of help in this connection.""Naturally, a most thorough and unbiased investigation is needed, and I am confident that it will be carried out. Russia is ready to offer any kind of help in this connection."
More tests
It was later that day that Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, fell ill.
Dr Keith Patterson, of University College Hospital, said on Friday that the level of polonium-210 found in Mr Scaramella's body was of a "considerably lower level" than that found in Mr Litvinenko's body.Dr Keith Patterson, of University College Hospital, said on Friday that the level of polonium-210 found in Mr Scaramella's body was of a "considerably lower level" than that found in Mr Litvinenko's body.
Protective clothing
A post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko, who died on 23 November, was completed on Friday.A post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko, who died on 23 November, was completed on Friday.
Those present at the examination at the Royal London Hospital, in east London, wore protective clothing to avoid contamination by traces of the polonium-210 isotope.Those present at the examination at the Royal London Hospital, in east London, wore protective clothing to avoid contamination by traces of the polonium-210 isotope.
Kremlin denial
Mr Scaramella is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into KGB activity and had been sufficiently worried by the contents of an e-mail to ask for advice from Mr Litvinenko.Mr Scaramella is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into KGB activity and had been sufficiently worried by the contents of an e-mail to ask for advice from Mr Litvinenko.
The e-mail said that he, Mr Litvinenko and an Italian senator, Paolo Guzzanti, were possible targets for assassination.The e-mail said that he, Mr Litvinenko and an Italian senator, Paolo Guzzanti, were possible targets for assassination.
Mr Guzzanti has indicated he fears for his life and is contacting Italian authorities to check if he has been poisoned.Mr Guzzanti has indicated he fears for his life and is contacting Italian authorities to check if he has been poisoned.
Friends of Mr Litvinenko believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Putin government.Friends of Mr Litvinenko believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Putin government.
The Kremlin has denied any suggestion it was involved in his death in any way as "sheer nonsense".
However, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his government was prepared to answer questions from British experts investigating Mr Litvinenko's poisoning but no questions had yet been submitted.
The British Embassy in Moscow has said there was no information to suspect any link between Mr Litvinenko's death and the illness suffered by former prime minister of Russia Yegor Gaidar in the Republic of Ireland.The British Embassy in Moscow has said there was no information to suspect any link between Mr Litvinenko's death and the illness suffered by former prime minister of Russia Yegor Gaidar in the Republic of Ireland.