Former Spy Suffers Major Deterioration

The condition of the former Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko suffered a major deterioration overnight amid reports that x-rays have revealed three unusual objects in his digestive system.

A spokeswoman for University College hospital, where Mr Litvinenko is being treated, said his condition was now "very serious" and that he remained in intensive care.

A friend said he had possibly suffered a cardiac arrest and was currently on an artificial heart support machine.

The BBC reported that a hospital source said three objects of dense matter showed up on x-rays taken of Mr Litvinenko on Tuesday afternoon. It was not clear whether the objects were related to his illness.

In a statement, the hospital said its investigations were continuing and it was not willing to make further comment until it had more information.

Anti-terror police have previously said Mr Litvinenko was "deliberately" poisoned. The Metropolitan police said it had no knowledge of the items and the results of toxicology tests were still pending.

The BBC reported that the three objects were the size of two pence pieces and were located in his left abdomen, colon and small bowel.

It claimed that the objects might be packages and one of them had possibly ruptured. A close friend of the 43-year-old, Alex Goldfarb, said he and Mr Litvinenko's family had not been told about the presence of the objects.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "His situation has deteriorated overnight and apparently he is now on an artificial heart system. He had a catastrophic fall of his blood pressure and probably a cardiac arrest."