Former KGB agent claims death threats

A Russian described as a KGB defector was quoted yesterday as saying he feared for his life after receiving death threats following the murder of fellow former agent Alexander Litvinenko.

Yevgeny Limarev, who lives in eastern France, has links with Mario Scaramella, an Italian who met Mr Litvinenko in London on November 23 - the day Mr Litvinenko fell ill.

"I am scared of being assassinated like (Mr) Litvinenko because my name is mentioned as number three in the affair after (Mr) Litvinenko and (Mr) Scaramella," Mr Limarev told Le Parisien newspaper.

"In Italy they released my name in public. So I really have some reasons to fear for my life."

He said he had complained to French police after his belongings were stolen in a burglary in Rome last month and after an attempted break-in at his French home.

"Then two days ago, I made a third complaint to the Bonneville prosecutors office for anonymous death threats," he said. Asked whether he had considered going into hiding, he said: "No, I have stayed at home all the time."

He said he had given the newspaper an interview to make French authorities aware of "the seriousness of the threats against me".

Mr Limarev said he had worked as a consultant to Mr Scaramella for two years and had confirmed some information that his Russian contacts had e-mailed the Italian directly.

He also said he had met Mr Litvinenko four or five times but had not seen him since September 2003.