The man reported to be a suspect in the murder of a former Russian agent in London hit out today at “lies, provocation and government propaganda”, denying any role in the radiation poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko.

Russia has opened a criminal case in the poisoning death of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko and for the attempted killing of associate Dmitry Kovtun, the Prosecutor General’s office said today.

Ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died last month after being poisoned, was scheduled to be buried in London today, his friends said.

Russian investigators said they have begun questioning in the radiation poisoning death of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko, a case that has left radiation traces from a London soccer stadium to the British Embassy in Moscow.

At least 21 people, including two suicide bombers, were killed in confrontations between terrorists and police near the Uzbekistan president’s home in Tashkent today.