Poisoned ex-spy's book attracts bids on internet

Copies of a controversial book co-authored by Alexander Litvinenko are for sale on the internet at up to 30 times their original price.

One second-hand copy of Blowing up Russia: Terror from Within comes with a price tag of almost £237 on online book shop Amazon.

A new copy of the book, which alleges members of the Russian security services organised a series of bombings, is on sale for £189.

Meanwhile bids for a signed copy of the book have reached £100 in five days on the online auction site eBay.

The copy was signed and dedicated by Mr Litvinenko last year. It reads: “Dear Diane. Thank you for the help and support!”

However the website of New York publisher SPI Books offers copies for 13.95 dollars, a little more than £7, plus postage.

In the 2002 book, Mr Litvinenko alleged that agents of the KGB’s successor, the Federal Security Service (FSB), co-ordinated a series of apartment block bombings.

More than 300 people were killed in explosions that took place over two months in Moscow and several other Russian cities in 1999.

Russian officials blamed the explosions on Chechen separatists and the Kremlin launched a new offensive in the country soon afterwards.

The book also includes allegations of contract killings and abductions organised by the security services.

Mr Litvinenko used his first-hand experience of service in the Russian military and KGB, where he specialised in counter-terrorism, as material for some of the claims.

The book was co-written with Yuri Felshtinsky, a Russian historian who now lives in the United States.

SPI Books is a small New York-based publisher that specialises in books on politics, terrorism and the military.