(Updates with full quotes)

LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - British police said on Wednesday that they were now treating the case of poisoned former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko as murder.

Detectives had up till now only said that they were treating his death in London from radiation poisoning as suspicious.

"Detectives investigating the death of Alexander Litvinenko have reached the stage where it is felt appropriate to treat it as an allegation of murder," Scotland Yard police headquarters said in a statement.

"Detectives in this case are keeping an open mind and methodically following the evidence," it added.

"It is important to stress that we have reached no conclusions as to the means employed, the motive or the identity of those who might be responsible for Mr Litvinenko's death," the statement added.

AlertNet news is provided by

Delicio.us  |   Digg  |   NewsVine  |   Reddit                                                                                  Permalink