Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko at London's University College Hospital on 20 November 2006.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    MOSCOW, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov denied claims that Russia's intelligence service was involved in the death of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko.

    "I rule out this possibility and see no sense in it. I was not personally acquainted with Litvinenko, but I know that he worked in a division of the Federal Security Service (FSB) which dealt with organized crime," Ivanov said in an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, the transcript of which was posted on his ministry's website on Tuesday.

    Litvinenko died of radioactive poisoning on Thursday in London. British police are studying footage from security cameras after finding radioactive traces at three London locations visited by Litvinenko.

    Litvinenko was an open critic of the FSB and was arrested several times. He fled to Britain with his wife and son in November 2000 and was granted asylum. He became a British citizen last month.

    He accused the Kremlin of orchestrating his poisoning just before his death, an accusation Moscow vehemently denies.

    An official of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying on Tuesday that the office "is ready to assist Scotland Yard in its investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death" of Litvinenko.

    Russia had not received any requests from Britain, the official added.

Radioactive traces found in London

    BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Traces of radiation have been found at several more sites in London during investigations into the death of a former Russian spy, British Home Secretary John Reid said on Monday.

    Besides Alexander Litvinenko's home and a hotel and restaurant he visited on Nov. 1, the day he fell ill with radiation poisoning, "several other premises" also have the indications of radiation. But Reid didn't give the names of the places and said there was no need for public alarm.

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