Litvinenko 'no doubt Putin gave order to kill him'

Alexander Litvinenko said he had "no doubt" Vladimir Putin had given Russian spies the order to kill him, an inquiry has heard.

While in his hospital bed, Litvinenko said: "As I lie here I can distinctly hear the beating of wings of the angel of death.

"You may succeed in silencing one man but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life. May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me but to beloved Russia and its people," the inquiry was told.

In interviews with police, Mr Litvinenko said that he had "no doubt whatsoever" that the Russian secret service were behind the killing.

And he claimed that the order could have only come from Mr Putin. He told police: "Yes, they did try to kill me and possibly I might die.

"But I will die a free person and my son and wife are free people."

Russia have always denied that they were behind Litvinenko's death.