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| Spy probe focuses on two capitals | Spy probe focuses on two capitals |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| UK police investigating the death of Alexander Litvinenko are now pursuing inquiries in both London and Moscow. | UK police investigating the death of Alexander Litvinenko are now pursuing inquiries in both London and Moscow. |
| A hotel and an office are the latest central London locations to be tested for signs of the radioactive substance found in the ex-KGB agent's body. | A hotel and an office are the latest central London locations to be tested for signs of the radioactive substance found in the ex-KGB agent's body. |
| A room at the British Embassy in Moscow is also being tested as a precaution. | A room at the British Embassy in Moscow is also being tested as a precaution. |
| Home Secretary John Reid has said officers will "follow the evidence" as Russia warned speculation on the death was harming relations with the UK. | |
| Potential witnesses | |
| Former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi, who met Mr Litvinenko in London on 1 November - the day he fell ill - visited the British Embassy building in Moscow last week to deny any involvement in his death. | |
| Officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command arrived in the Russian capital on Monday as part of their inquiries. | Officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command arrived in the Russian capital on Monday as part of their inquiries. |
| They plan to interview several potential witnesses in Russia during their trip, which could last weeks. | |
| The British detectives are likely to be escorted by a local Russian police force. | |
| A team of experts, who have also travelled to Moscow, is to carry out "precautionary" tests in one room of the British Embassy. | |
| Police launched their investigation after Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in a London hospital on 23 November. | Police launched their investigation after Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in a London hospital on 23 November. |
| Polonium-210 | Polonium-210 |
| His death is being linked to radiation poisoning by the highly toxic isotope polonium-210, which was found in his body, with more traces found at venues he had visited in London on 1 November. | His death is being linked to radiation poisoning by the highly toxic isotope polonium-210, which was found in his body, with more traces found at venues he had visited in London on 1 November. |
| Andrei Lugovoi has denied any involvement in the poisoning | Andrei Lugovoi has denied any involvement in the poisoning |
| The Parkes Hotel in Knightsbridge - where Mr Lugovoi reportedly said he had stayed - and an office in Cavendish Place were being examined in London on Monday. | The Parkes Hotel in Knightsbridge - where Mr Lugovoi reportedly said he had stayed - and an office in Cavendish Place were being examined in London on Monday. |
| Tests carried out by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) at the Best Western Hotel in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, found nothing of concern to public health. | Tests carried out by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) at the Best Western Hotel in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, found nothing of concern to public health. |
| Friends believe Mr Litvinenko was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Russian government, but the Kremlin has dismissed suggestions it was involved in any way as "sheer nonsense". | Friends believe Mr Litvinenko was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Russian government, but the Kremlin has dismissed suggestions it was involved in any way as "sheer nonsense". |
| Speaking in Brussels on Monday at European Union talks, Mr Reid said: "This investigation will proceed as normal, whatever the diplomatic or... wider considerations." | Speaking in Brussels on Monday at European Union talks, Mr Reid said: "This investigation will proceed as normal, whatever the diplomatic or... wider considerations." |
| 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 |
| The Kremlin had given assurances that support and information would be forthcoming, the home secretary added. | The Kremlin had given assurances that support and information would be forthcoming, the home secretary added. |
| But Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Kremlin officials should not be involved in the British police inquiry and that the "tragedy" should not be politicised. | But Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Kremlin officials should not be involved in the British police inquiry and that the "tragedy" should not be politicised. |
| "If the British have questions, then they should be sent via the law enforcement agencies between which there are contacts," he said. | "If the British have questions, then they should be sent via the law enforcement agencies between which there are contacts," he said. |
| "We are talking about the need to avoid speculations on this subject." | "We are talking about the need to avoid speculations on this subject." |
| Outpatient clinic | Outpatient clinic |
| Meanwhile, Mario Scaramella - an Italian contact of Mr Litvinenko's - is still being observed by doctors after testing positive for polonium-210. | Meanwhile, Mario Scaramella - an Italian contact of Mr Litvinenko's - is still being observed by doctors after testing positive for polonium-210. |
| However, doctors say Mr Scaramella, who also met Mr Litvinenko on 1 November, remains well. | However, doctors say Mr Scaramella, who also met Mr Litvinenko on 1 November, remains well. |
| The Health Protection Agency said just over 3,000 people in the UK had called the NHS Direct line since the radiation scare, with 179 being followed up for further investigation. | The Health Protection Agency said just over 3,000 people in the UK had called the NHS Direct line since the radiation scare, 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 to be negative. | A total of 70 urine samples, mainly from medical staff and ambulance workers, have been tested and found to be negative. |