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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Litvinenko inquest: Coroner examines secret files | Litvinenko inquest: Coroner examines secret files |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The judge due to preside over the inquest into the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko is to examine secret documents to decide whether more information can be made public. | The judge due to preside over the inquest into the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko is to examine secret documents to decide whether more information can be made public. |
| Sir Robert Owen will look at the files in a closed hearing. | Sir Robert Owen will look at the files in a closed hearing. |
| A pre-inquest review is being held to determine the scope of the inquest, due to start in May. | A pre-inquest review is being held to determine the scope of the inquest, due to start in May. |
| Mr Litvinenko, 43, was poisoned in London in 2006 - allegedly at a meeting with two Russian former KGB contacts. | Mr Litvinenko, 43, was poisoned in London in 2006 - allegedly at a meeting with two Russian former KGB contacts. |
| The UK government is seeking to prevent certain details relating to the case from being placed in open court for security reasons. | The UK government is seeking to prevent certain details relating to the case from being placed in open court for security reasons. |
| Ben Emmerson QC, lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina, has suggested this should be treated with the "greatest degree of scepticism" and seeks to conceal details of Mr Litvinenko's ties to MI6. | Ben Emmerson QC, lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina, has suggested this should be treated with the "greatest degree of scepticism" and seeks to conceal details of Mr Litvinenko's ties to MI6. |
| Sir Robert will examine a bundle of secret documents, in the company of counsel for Foreign Secretary William Hague, to decide if more can be made public on the government's reasons for wanting each of the documents kept secret. | |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Robert said: "I intend to conduct this inquest with the greatest possible degree of openness and transparency." | Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Robert said: "I intend to conduct this inquest with the greatest possible degree of openness and transparency." |
| Highest levels | |
| The UK government's public interest immunity (PII) application to exclude sensitive information is being opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow as well as media organisations, including the BBC. | |
| At the hearing on Tuesday, Mr Emmerson argued that attempts to withhold evidence pointed towards a conspiracy at the highest levels of government. | |
| "The British government, like the Russian government, is conspiring to get this inquest closed down in exchange for substantial trade interests which we know [Prime Minister David] Cameron is pursuing," he said. | |
| The pre-inquest review has previously heard that Mr Litvinenko was working alongside Spanish spies for MI6 in the days before his death. | |
| British government documents that implied Russia was behind the 43-year old's death have also been revealed. Moscow has denied any involvement. | |
| Russia has refused to extradite main suspect Andrei Lugovoi, to the UK for questioning. He has also denied any involvement. |