Litvinenko inquest: Government makes secrecy request

A coroner is to hear an application by the government to keep some information secret at the forthcoming inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko.

The former Russian security service officer was poisoned by radioactive polonium in London in 2006.

Tuesday's hearing will consider an application for a broad Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate.

It is expected to be opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow as well as media organisations, including the BBC.

The PII certificate would exclude some information from the inquest when it opens later this year.

They are usually issued on the grounds of national security.

At an earlier pre-inquest hearing the lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow said the Russian had been a paid agent of MI6 and argued the inquest should examine the secret service's relationship with him.

Sir Robert Owen, a judge acting as the coroner, has said he would examine what was known of threats to Mr Litvinenko's life and also whether the Russian state was responsible for his death.

The Kremlin has indicated it would like to become an interested party in the inquest, which would allow representatives of the Russian state to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence, BBC reports.