Widow of poisoned agent threatens to quit inquest

LONDON (AP) — The widow of a former Kremlin agent killed by radioactive poisoning plans to boycott an inquest unless the British government holds a public inquiry examining alleged Russian involvement.

Lawyer Ben Emmerson told a pre-inquest hearing Tuesday that Marina Litvinenko "will consider herself unable to continue in the inquest process as an interested party," if the government refuses.

Alexander Litvinenko, an intelligence agent turned Kremlin critic, died in London in 2006 after drinking tea laced with the radioactive isotope polonium-210.

Britain accuses two Russians of the killing, but Moscow refuses to extradite them.

The British government has barred a coroner's inquest from considering sensitive evidence relating to Russia's alleged role.

Coroner Robert Owen has said the only way to get key evidence into the open is to hold a public inquiry.

( radioactive poisoning? Regular poison not good enough? That some crazy spy biz there)