Italian in Russian spy case not contaminated

ROME, Nov 29 (Reuters) An Italian contact of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian spy who died of radiation poisoning in Britain on Thursday, has not been contaminated by the deadly Polonium 210, his lawyer said today.

Mario Scaramella, who is under police protection in London, met Litvinenko on November 1 at a London sushi restaurant where traces of the poison were also found.

At the meeting, the Italian, who has advised an Italian parliamentary commission on Soviet-era espionage and describes himself as a security consultant, showed Litvinenko emails from a mutual source warning their lives may be in danger from St Petersburg-based criminals.

''He is not contaminated,'' Scaramella's lawyer, Sergio Rastrelli, told Reuters by telephone from London. ''The tests have proved there is no trace of radioactive contamination.'' British Prime Minister Tony Blair promised yesterday that ''no diplomatic or political barrier'' would be allowed to hamper the investigation into Litvinenko's death.

The Kremlin denies any involvement but the Litvinenko case has fuelled tensions between London and Moscow.

A post mortem examination will be carried out on Friday under secure conditions to avoid possible radioactive contamination.

REUTERS PDM BD1804