The Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko is dying in a hospital in London. His condition suddenly sharply deteriorated, he can't speak any more. He was transfered to a resuscitation ward in the hospital, according to a report from his friend cited by a Russian newspaper.
The doctors are still unable to determine the agent used by the FSB to poison Mr Litvinenko. It could be either heavy metals, or radiation, or allergic reaction to an unknown substance, the doctors said
Mr. Litvinenko, a colonel of the Russian secret service FSB, defected to Great Britain in 2000. He was sentenced in absentia for treason in Russia.
Except for a few lines in an Austrian newspaper citing the Chechenpress news agency, no Western media ever reported about the FSB attempt upon the life of the defector. Mr Litvinenko became British citizen in October 2006.
The Scotland Yard says that they know nothing about the case because \"Russian journalists did not provide them with the address of the hospital\". Mr Litvinenko kept secret the address fearing further attacks against him by FSB agents in Britain. It would be a routine practice for the FSB to make a second attempt upon the life of the defector which probably already happened in the hospital.
KC
print version
