Xinhua - English

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- An Italian security expert who met with former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko the day he fell ill with radiation poisoning was under British protection and tested for contamination Tuesday, and officials ordered tests for eight people who exhibited possible symptoms.

Mario Scaramella, the Italian security expert, who helped investigate KGB activity in Italy during the Cold War, said he met Alexander Litvinenko at a London sushi restaurant on Nov. 1.

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.

BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The British police sought to investigate the death of Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former Russian KGB agent, said a British official on Sunday.

"British policemen have gone as far as saying no more than this is a suspicious death that they are investigating and they have ruled out no option," said John Reid, the Home Secretary and Britain's most senior law enforcement official.

BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- After investigating the death of a former Russian spy, health authorities in Britain tested 300 people for traces of radiation Sunday, who are also customers of restaurant and hotel visited by radiation victim Alexander Litvinenko.

Litvinenko, 43, a former KGB agent died Thursday of heart failure after falling gravely ill from what doctors said was poisoning by the radioactive element polonium-210.

LONDON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned by an unknown toxic substance three weeks ago died on Thursday at the intensive care unit of London's University College Hospital (UCH).

The UCH said in a statement that doctors couldn't determine the cause of the death of Litvinenko, who has been hospitalized in the UCH since last Friday.

UK police probe plot to kill ex-Russian spy

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- British police Sunday confirmed they are investigating a suspected plot to kill a former Russian spy by poisoning him with the toxic metal thallium.

British press reported exiled agent Alexander Litvinenko, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been hospitalized in University College Hospital in London since the begining of the month with symptoms of near-fatal poisoning.