Former Russian Spy Poisoned by Radioactive Material

The media has been following the case of a former Russian spy who suddenly fell ill from apparent poisoning, and died yesterday in a London hospital. It turns out that the spy was poisoned with radioactive material:

A large quantity of radiation, probably from a substance called Polonium 210, has been found in the body of dead ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

The "major dose" of alpha radiation was detected in his urine, said Government experts, who added that Polonium 210 is only dangerous if ingested.

They also revealed that police have found radiation in a central London sushi bar where Mr Litvinenko ate shortly before falling ill - and in a hotel where he had met two Russians that morning.

Russian's home searched Dr Pat Troop, head of the Health Protection Agency, said the death was an "unprecedented event in the UK" and he had "apparently been poisoned by a type of radiation".

The development came as Home Secretary John Reid revealed the police were searching for residual radioactive material at a number of locations.

Sites include Mr Litvinenko's house in north London and reportedly the sushi restaurant in the capital where he met an Italian contact shortly before he fell seriously ill.

Although authorities aren't sure who poisoned Mr. Litvinenko, the spy himself was pretty sure who did it and wrote a letter before he died accusing the Russian government of killing him.

The distraught father Before he died in a London hospital on Thursday night, Mr Litvinenko wrote a statement on Tuesday blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering his murder.

He accused the leader of having "no respect for life, liberty or any civilised value".

He told Mr Putin: "You have shown yourself to be unworthy of your office, to be unworthy of the trust of civilised men and women."

The Russian President said the death was a tragedy, but he had not seen any definitive proof that it was a "violent death". He also brushed off suggestions linking him to the case.

Mr Litvinenko's tearful father Walter said: "This (Russian) regime is a mortal danger to the world", adding "It was an excruciating death."

Mr Litvinenko's supporters said he was killed because he was investigating the murder last month of journalist and fellow Putin critic Anna Politkovskaya.

The Russians play for keeps, and if they in fact were responsible for this, you have to be concerned about the way Russia plans to operate in the future.