Litvinenko inqury: Radiation 'at highest levels where suspect stayed'

A police officer investigating the death of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko has said the highest levels of radioactive contamination were recorded at the hotel where one of the prime suspects was staying.

Andrei Lugovoi, who, along with Dmitri Kovtun, are suspected of poisoning Mr Litvinenko with polonium-210 in 2006, was staying alone at the Sheraton Park Lane hotel between October 25 and October 28 that year.

Detective Inspector Craig Mascall has told the public inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's death that traces of radioactivity were found throughout the hotel and in Lugovoi's room.

The highest levels of radioactivity were discovered on towels, he said.

The inquiry also heard that a chaffuer-driven car used by Lugovoi to get out of London was found to have traces of radioactive contamination.

Lugovoi and Kovtun deny any involvement and remain in Russia.

Dmitri Kovtun's former wife appeared to contradict his own claim that he was a director of an oil company in 2006.

Mr Kovtun, who is accused of Alexander Litvinenko's murder, had fled to Hamburg in Germany and sought political asylum, the inquiry was told.

During an interview with British police in December 2006, Mr Kovtun listed his jobs as director general of gas and oil provider Global Project and an employee of Continental Petroleum Limited.

But in an extract of a police interview given by his ex-wife Inne Hohne, which was read to the court, she said he "wanted to be a porno star" and that he had "absolutely nothing to do with" the oil trade.

The inquiry into Alexander Litvinenko's death has heard how suspect Andrei Lugovoi was in hospital for exposure to radioactive material when Scotland Yard officers questioned him in Moscow.

Detective Inspector Craig Mascall from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit told the inquiry that British officers travelled to Moscow to interview Mr Lugovoi and fellow suspect Dmitri Kovtun in December 2006.

Mr Mascall confirmed that both men are accused of murder and would be arrested if they ever entered the UK.

One of the men suspecting of murdering poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko told police that anyone who caused damage to Russia should be "exterminated", the inquiry into his death has heard.

Former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi is one of two men charged with Mr Litvinenko's murder.

In an extract of the newspaper interview shown to the inquiry, he said he believed Litvinenko was a "traitor".

He allegedly added: "If someone has caused the Russian state serious damage, they should be exterminated. This is my firm belief and the belief of any normal Russian".

The last photograph taken of poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko before he died has been shown to the public inquiry into his death.

The photos show Litvinenko lying gaunt in a bed at University College Hospital in his final days.

Mr Litvinenko agreed to have images taken of him because he wanted to let the world know "he was poisoned by the Kremlin", the inquiry heard.

Alex Goldfarb, a friend of the ex-KGB officer, told the inquiry that the image was the last photo of Litvinenko alive.

The widow of Alexander Litvinenko has told an inquiry into his death that initially no one realised her husband had been poisoned.

Marina Litvinenko told the inquiry that it was only when her husband's hair started to come out that doctors realised his immune system was failing.

ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner reports.

Alexander Litvinenko's son told an inquiry into his death that he "never truly believed" his father would die and that he was "hit hard" by the news.

Twenty-year-old Anatoly Litvinenko was 12 when his father died. He told the court, "Before this point I never truly believed my father would die. I was young and optimistic and I thought he would recover."

He told the inquiry that his father's death "hit me hard, but at the same time I felt quite numb ... It was very painful to look at him in the state he was in."

"I understood why he disliked Russia. I understood why he liked England and I understood his sentiments towards Chechnya," Anatoly added.

Alexander Litvinenko's widow wept today as she recalled the last words she heard him utter before his death, "I love you so much".

Recounting the disturbing days leading up to his death, Marina Litvinenko told the inquiry into her husband's death that he converted to Islam from his bed so he could be buried in Chechen soil.

The former Russian spy, who worked for British intelligence services during his time in the UK, died at University College Hospital nearly three weeks after he consumed tea laced with polonium-210 at the Millennium Hotel in London's Grosvenor Square.

Two men - former KGB bodyguard-turned-politician Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun - were named as the main suspects in 2007. Both deny any involvement and remain in Russia.

• Timeline: The days leading up to Litvinenko's death

Asked who she blamed for her husband's death, Marina Litvinenko told the inquiry: