Spy death: 3 have radiation tests

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LONDON, England -- Three people have undergone testing for possible radioactive contamination following the death of a former Russian spy in London, British Home Secretary John Reid said on Monday.

Highly radioactive polonium-210 was found in the body of Alexander Litvinenko, who died last week, and traces of radiation were found at his home, a restaurant and hotel he had visited.

Reid told parliament that indications of radiation had also been found at "several other premises," which he did not name. But he said there was no need for public alarm. (Watch investigators seek path of deadly poison, other victims )

Health officials have offered tests to members of the public who may have visited the locations. A spokeswoman for Britain's Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that of more than 450 people who called a government hotline for health advice, 18 had been passed on to the HPA for follow-up.

"Of those 18, three have been referred as a precaution to a special clinic for radiological assessment," she said.

An inquest into Litvinenko's death is expected to begin Thursday, said Camden Council, which oversees the North London Coroner's Court -- the body that orders such inquests.

London's inner north district coroner Dr. Andrew Reid was assessing when and if to conduct a post mortem examination on Litvineko's body.

He has to take advice on whether it is safe to perform the procedure, given that the 43-year-old was poisoned with radiation, the UK's Press Association reported.

Speaking in parliament Monday, opposition home affairs spokesman David Davis said the fact that Litvinenko was poisoned raised several issues about how materials that were normally only available to govewrnment were available.

Davis also said it was "incredibly important to resolve the question of whether the Russian state was involved."

Reid said the Russian ambassador had been called to the Foreign Office last Friday. "He was asked to convey to the Russian authorities our expectation that they should be ready to offer all necessary cooperation to the investigation as it proceeds."

On Sunday a UK Cabinet minister launched an outspoken attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin, blamed by Litvinenko for his poisoning.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain criticized Putin's "huge attacks" on liberty and democracy.

'Attacks on liberty'

Litvinenko, a former KGB officer and vocal opponent of Putin, died on Thursday night after ingesting a large dose of radioactive polonium-210.

A statement he composed before his death pinned the blame on the Russian leader, a claim denied by the Kremlin.

Hain accused Putin of presiding over "huge attacks on individual liberty and on democracy."

Hain said Putin's tenure had been "clouded" by incidents "including an extremely murky murder of a senior Russian journalist" -- Anna Politkovskaya.

London Metropolitan Police said Sunday they were investigating a "suspicious death," rather than a murder.

They have not ruled out the possibility that Litvinenko may have poisoned himself.

Litvinenko, 43, told police he believed he was poisoned November 1 while investigating the October slaying of Politkovskaya.

He was moved to intensive care last week after his hair fell out, his throat became swollen and his immune and nervous systems suffered severe damage.

Britain's Health Protection Agency called the poisoning by polonium-210 -- a rare radioactive element usually produced in a nuclear reactor or particle accelerator -- "an unprecedented event."

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