Minor radiation traces found at British Embassy

Experts have found minor traces of radiation at the British Embassy in Moscow but they presented no health risk to the public, an embassy spokesman said today.

“A team of experts have concluded a precautionary check of the British Embassy in Moscow.

“They have found no danger to public health.

“Small traces of radiation were found below level that present a risk to health.

“The Embassy is working as normal.

“There is no cause for concern,” the spokesman said.

The official did not indicate what kind of radiation had been found or give any further details.

Earlier today it was revealed that Andrei Lugovoi, a key witness in the radiation poisoning case of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko, will not meet with British investigators today, a Russian news agency reported.

ITAR-Tass quoted a lawyer for Lugovoi, Andrei Romashov, as saying the meeting with Scotland Yard detectives will take place either tomorrow or Friday.

“Representatives of law enforcement organs have not notified us of a date or time,” Romashov was quoted as saying.

Vyacheslav Sokolenko, who has co-operated with Lugovoi in business ventures, earlier said the meeting would take place, but declined to state the time or place.

The prosecutor general’s office refused to confirm the meeting. The agency also said investigators have interviewed for a second time a business associate of Lugovoi’s – Dmitry Kovtun, who joined Lugovoi in meeting Litvinenko on November 1, the date when the ex-KGB agent said he had been poisoned.

Litvinenko, 43, died on November 23 in London.

Toxicologists found polonium-210, a rare radioactive substance, in his body. Lugovoi is a former security service agent who now has various business interests.