Russian TV tracks radiation probe

Radioactive traces have been found on two aircraft

News bulletins on Russia's main television channels have been taking a keen interest in the series of radiation tests on British Airways aircraft and at a number of locations in and around London.

Coverage of the checks has given fresh impetus to speculation about the death of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko from apparent radiation poisoning.

'Panic in London'

The three main national networks, Rossiya, Channel One and NTV, all led their Thursday evening bulletins with extensive coverage of the radiation alert and reports from their London correspondents.

The state TV channel Rossiya kicked off its bulletin in hard-hitting style.

"Panic in London," observed its presenter.

"British special services are monitoring five aircraft that may have traces of deadly polonium-210."

Later in the bulletin, the same presenter advised British police to widen their investigation to cover London taxicabs and underground trains.

The state-run Channel One echoed this tone, telling its viewers that "Britain is on the brink of panic" and opening its bulletin with images of British police officers on the streets of central London.

On NTV, owned by the state-controlled energy giant Gazprom, one presenter suggested that "thousands of people around the world might now start panicking".

'Ominous plan'

Most of Russia's leading newspapers have their own angle to offer as well.

The Friday edition of Izvestia gave its readers a detailed account of how polonium affects the body, while Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on production of the isotope in Russia.

For one commentator in the Gazeta newspaper, Mr Litvinenko's death needs to be seen in a new light after former Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar fell victim to a mystery illness.

"The series of attempts - Politkovskaya, Litvinenko, Gaidar - is effectively our 11 September," he said.

"The resonance is worldwide."

For some, including MP Alexander Khinshtein, this is no accident.

"We are dealing with an ominous plan to discredit Russia and Putin in the eyes of the international community," Komsomolskaya Pravda quoted him as saying.

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