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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Spy widow points finger at Russia | Spy widow points finger at Russia |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The widow of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko has said she believes the Russian authorities could have been behind his murder. | The widow of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko has said she believes the Russian authorities could have been behind his murder. |
| Marina Litvinenko, 44, told the Mail on Sunday: "Obviously it was not Putin himself, of course not." | Marina Litvinenko, 44, told the Mail on Sunday: "Obviously it was not Putin himself, of course not." |
| But she said what President Putin "does around him in Russia makes it possible to kill a British person" in Britain. | But she said what President Putin "does around him in Russia makes it possible to kill a British person" in Britain. |
| Two Metropolitan Police officers have tested positive for traces of radioactive substance polonium-210. | |
| In her interview Mrs Litvinenko said she had confidence UK police would find her husband's killer, but would not help Russia's planned probe. | |
| She told the Mail on Sunday Russian authorities had not yet been in touch with her. | |
| We were both completely sure he would recover Marina Litvinenko | We were both completely sure he would recover Marina Litvinenko |
| "I do not think I will help them with their investigations," she said. | "I do not think I will help them with their investigations," she said. |
| "I can't believe that they will tell the truth. I can't believe if they ask about evidence they will use it in the proper way." | "I can't believe that they will tell the truth. I can't believe if they ask about evidence they will use it in the proper way." |
| Traces of polonium-210 were found in Mr Litvinenko's body. | |
| The Metropolitan Police said two of the 26 police officers closely involved in the Litvinenko inquiry have tested positive for traces of the substance. | |
| It said the polonium traces were "relatively small" and were "below defined safety limits". | |
| Both officers are being monitored by health specialists. | Both officers are being monitored by health specialists. |
| Mr Litvinenko's widow said he had alienated the FSB | |
| Mrs Litvinenko also told the Mail on Sunday her husband's last words to her last month before he died of suspected polonium-210 poisoning were: "Marina, I love you so much." | Mrs Litvinenko also told the Mail on Sunday her husband's last words to her last month before he died of suspected polonium-210 poisoning were: "Marina, I love you so much." |
| She also said she would do everything she could for "Sasha", as her husband was known to family and friends. | She also said she would do everything she could for "Sasha", as her husband was known to family and friends. |
| "Even until the last day, and the day before when he became unconscious, I thought he would be okay. We were both completely sure he would recover, " she told the newspaper. "We had been talking about bone-marrow transplants and looking to the future." | |
| Mrs Litvinenko said the couple's 12-year-old son had found his father's death "very difficult", but he had been trying to comfort his mother. | Mrs Litvinenko said the couple's 12-year-old son had found his father's death "very difficult", but he had been trying to comfort his mother. |
| Friends of Mr Litvinenko believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Russian government, but the Kremlin has dismissed suggestions it was involved in any way. | |
| After Mr Litvinenko's death Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We don't consider it possible to comment on the statements accusing the Kremlin because it is nothing but sheer nonsense." | |
| Russia's foreign intelligence service has also issued a statement denying any involvement. | |
| 'Speaking out' | 'Speaking out' |
| His widow told the Sunday Times she had decided to speak out after some "completely untrue" reports suggested her husband was a man of dubious character. | His widow told the Sunday Times she had decided to speak out after some "completely untrue" reports suggested her husband was a man of dubious character. |
| She told the paper he had been an honest man and a crime fighter rather than a spy. | She told the paper he had been an honest man and a crime fighter rather than a spy. |
| She said her husband's public claims about his former employers at the FSB, Russia's secret police, had alienated them, the paper reported. | She said her husband's public claims about his former employers at the FSB, Russia's secret police, had alienated them, the paper reported. |
| She said Mr Litvinenko knew "you can never escape from the FSB and he was starting to speak openly about crime." | She said Mr Litvinenko knew "you can never escape from the FSB and he was starting to speak openly about crime." |
| She added: "I can't say (it was) these people but I'm absolutely sure they didn't forgive him for what he did." | She added: "I can't say (it was) these people but I'm absolutely sure they didn't forgive him for what he did." |