Ex-KGB suspect in Alexander Litvinenko murder 'was a target himself'

The former KGB bodyguard wanted in London over the killing of Alexander Litvinenko was himself a target of the murderers, Russian investigators claim.

Andrey Lugovoy has been accused in the case of dissident Mr Litvinenko, who died in London in 2006 after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210. Mr Litvinenko is believed to have drunk tea containing the substance at a London meeting with Lugovoy.

But the Russian Investigation Committee said Lugovoy and another key witness in the case, former KGB agent Dmitry Kovtun, were targets. It said the murder was now being probed as a single case alongside the "attempted murder" of Lugovoy and Kovtun.

On his deathbed, Mr Litvinenko was quoted blaming Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin for his fatal poisoning. Britain has repeatedly sought Lugovoy's extradition but this has been blocked by Russia.

Lugovoy, now a Russian MP, and Kovtun have denied wrongdoing.