Dumb.meeting a contact in Japanese restaurant.if the contact didn't kill him the sushi would.
Bruce http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/russian-defector-poisoned-in-londona <http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/russian-defector-poisoned-in-londona%20 /2006/11/19/1163871272298.html> /2006/11/19/1163871272298.html Former Russian spy feared poisoned Serious but stable ... Alexander Litvinenko. Serious but stable ... Alexander Litvinenko. Photo: AP AdvertisementAdvertisement Andrew Alderson and James Glover in London November 20, 2006 Sydney Morning Herald SCOTLAND YARD has launched an investigation into an audacious attempt to murder a leading Russian defector, allegedly poisoned at a London restaurant. Alexander Litvinenko, a former colonel in the Russian secret service and a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was seriously ill and under armed guard at a London hospital on Saturday night. Mr Litvinenko, 50, who used to work for the Federal Security Bureau (the former KGB), fell ill after meeting a contact at Itsu, a Japanese restaurant in Piccadilly. The woman, a journalist, claimed to have information on the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, 48, the outspoken journalist who was killed at her Moscow apartment building last month. A close friend of Mr Litvinenko said: "Alexander has no doubt that he was poisoned at the instigation of the Russian Government." He has been living at a secret address in London with his wife and son because he feared he might be targeted by political opponents. Mr Litvinenko is thought to have been poisoned with thallium, a colourless and odourless liquid often used to kill rats. It has been used in previous murder attempts of political opponents. It has attacked Mr Litvinenko's central nervous system and it is feared he will never make a full recovery. His condition was described as "serious but stable". The Sunday Times reported that Mr Litvinenko had suffered damage to his kidneys and bone marrow, was vomiting regularly and had lost his hair. The newspaper said it had interviewed him in hospital, where he was registered under a false name. The crime evoked memories of the murder of Georgi Markov, 49, a prize-winning Bulgarian author and broadcaster, who was poisoned on London's Waterloo Bridge in 1978. Mr Markov felt a pain in his thigh and three days later he was dead: the murder weapon was an umbrella, partly developed by the KGB, which fired a pellet the size of a pinhead, containing the poison ricin. Mr Litvinenko defected to Britain six years ago and became a British citizen last month. He is regarded as a traitor by opponents in Russia. He met the journalist at Itsu on November 1 after she claimed to have information about Politkovskaya's murder. The next day Mr Litvinenko felt unwell and was admitted to hospital. It was initially thought he had a serious stomach upset, but in recent days his condition has deteriorated. Friends said the journalist might have been a genuine contact but that political opponents might have discovered the venue for their meeting and slipped the poison into his meal or drink. Tatiane Assis, the manager of Itsu, said two detectives visited the restaurant on Saturday. "They asked if we had CCTV. We said we didn't and they left without explaining why they had called." There is no suggestion that the restaurant, or its staff, had anything to do with the alleged poisoning. Telegraph, London; Associated Press [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. 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