Russian spy's Italian contact "well" in UK hospital

LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) An Italian contact of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko is ''well'' and preliminary tests show no sign of radiation poisoning, a British hospital said today.

Mario Scaramella was admitted to hospital in London after polonium 210 was detected in his body -- the same radioactive substance that killed Litvinenko.

''He is well. Preliminary tests so far show no evidence of radiation toxicity,'' a spokesman for London's University College Hospital said.

Further tests were due to be carried out on Scaramella over the weekend.

Scaramella met Litvinenko at a London sushi restaurant on November 1, the same day the Russian fell ill.

Litvinenko's mysterious death has caused a public health scare in Britain and fed a variety of theories, many centring on the possible involvement of rogue Russian agents.

REUTERS PDM HS1925