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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| UK spy probe police go to Russia | UK spy probe police go to Russia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British police have arrived in Moscow as part of the investigation into the death of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko. | |
| Home Secretary John Reid said the officers would "follow the evidence wherever it goes". | Home Secretary John Reid said the officers would "follow the evidence wherever it goes". |
| An office in Cavendish Place in central London is the latest location being examined over the poisoning. | An office in Cavendish Place in central London is the latest location being examined over the poisoning. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that speculation over the death of Mr Litvinenko was harming relations between Russia and the UK. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that speculation over the death of Mr Litvinenko was harming relations between Russia and the UK. |
| 'Good relationship' | 'Good relationship' |
| Mr Reid, in Brussels for European Union (EU) talks, said: "Margaret Beckett (Foreign Secretary) has made plain to her Russian colleagues that we are asking them to give us all the support and information that they can, and her Russian colleagues have, as far as I am aware, assured her that such support will be forthcoming. I hope that good relationship continues." | Mr Reid, in Brussels for European Union (EU) talks, said: "Margaret Beckett (Foreign Secretary) has made plain to her Russian colleagues that we are asking them to give us all the support and information that they can, and her Russian colleagues have, as far as I am aware, assured her that such support will be forthcoming. I hope that good relationship continues." |
| He added: "The police will follow the evidence wherever it goes." | He added: "The police will follow the evidence wherever it goes." |
| The Kremlin has given assurances that support and information would be forthcoming, the home secretary added. | The Kremlin has given assurances that support and information would be forthcoming, the home secretary added. |
| Mr Reid has sought to reassure EU ministers over the health threat posed by the ex-spy's poisoning. | Mr Reid has sought to reassure EU ministers over the health threat posed by the ex-spy's poisoning. |
| Mr Lavrov said there was a need to avoid politicising the issue of the ex-Russian spy's death. | Mr Lavrov said there was a need to avoid politicising the issue of the ex-Russian spy's death. |
| "If the British have questions, then they should be sent via the law enforcement agencies between which there are contacts," he added. | "If the British have questions, then they should be sent via the law enforcement agencies between which there are contacts," he added. |
| We are talking about the need to avoid speculations on this subject Sergey LavrovRussian Foreign Minister | We are talking about the need to avoid speculations on this subject Sergey LavrovRussian Foreign Minister |
| Mr Lavrov said that Kremlin officials should not be involved in the British police inquiry. | Mr Lavrov said that Kremlin officials should not be involved in the British police inquiry. |
| He said: "The only thing that we are talking about today is the need to avoid politicising this issue, this tragedy. | He said: "The only thing that we are talking about today is the need to avoid politicising this issue, this tragedy. |
| "We are talking about the need to avoid speculations on this subject." | "We are talking about the need to avoid speculations on this subject." |
| Italian Mario Scaramella - a contact of Mr Litvinenko's - is still being observed by doctors after testing positive for radiation. | Italian Mario Scaramella - a contact of Mr Litvinenko's - is still being observed by doctors after testing positive for radiation. |
| However, doctors say Mr Scaramella, who had traces of polonium-210 in his body and met Mr Litvinenko the day the former KGB agent fell ill, remains well. | However, doctors say Mr Scaramella, who had traces of polonium-210 in his body and met Mr Litvinenko the day the former KGB agent fell ill, remains well. |
| 'Wider investigation' | 'Wider investigation' |
| The BBC's Daniel Sandford said it was understood nine officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command could travel to Russia. | The BBC's Daniel Sandford said it was understood nine officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command could travel to Russia. |
| Mario Scaramella met Mr Litvinenko the day he fell ill | Mario Scaramella met Mr Litvinenko the day he fell ill |
| The specialist unit - launched in October to meet terrorist threats - is heading the investigation into the former KGB agent's poisoning. | The specialist unit - launched in October to meet terrorist threats - is heading the investigation into the former KGB agent's poisoning. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed news that the investigation was expanding. | Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed news that the investigation was expanding. |
| He told BBC One's The Politics Show on Sunday: "I think it's a good thing, I think it's very important that no channel is left unpursued, that this investigation goes right to its limit wherever that may be and that limit should not be a diplomatic limit, it should be the limit of the evidence." | He told BBC One's The Politics Show on Sunday: "I think it's a good thing, I think it's very important that no channel is left unpursued, that this investigation goes right to its limit wherever that may be and that limit should not be a diplomatic limit, it should be the limit of the evidence." |
| Mr Litvinenko's death is being linked to the discovery of polonium-210 in his body. | Mr Litvinenko's death is being linked to the discovery of polonium-210 in his body. |
| Friends believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Putin government. | Friends believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Putin government. |
| The Health Protection Agency said just over 3,000 people had now called the NHS Direct line in the wake of the radiation scare in the UK, with 179 being followed up for further investigation. | The Health Protection Agency said just over 3,000 people had now called the NHS Direct line in the wake of the radiation scare in the UK, with 179 being followed up for further investigation. |
| Twenty-seven people were referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient clinic for radiological exposure assessment. | Twenty-seven people were referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient clinic for radiological exposure assessment. |
| A total of 70 urine samples, mainly from medical staff and ambulance workers, have been tested and found negative. | A total of 70 urine samples, mainly from medical staff and ambulance workers, have been tested and found negative. |