A U-turn by the British government.

Last year an inquiry into the killing of a former Russian spy in London was declined, partly because of Anglo-Russian relations.

But on Tuesday, that decision was reversed, when the Home Secretary announced a public inquiry into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

Both the government and Litvinenko's widow denied the turnabout was linked to the the shooting of a Malaysia airlines jet.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) WIDOW OF ALEXANDER LITVINENKO, MARINA LITVINENKO, SPEAKING:

" I believed one day it will happen but it's happened today when it's a very difficult situation in the world and the relationship between Russia and all west community and what happened in Ukraine it makes all my case now in a very different prospect. But I'm definitely sure it was not taken because of this. The decision of public inquiry it would be anyway. But I think it just happened and not just because for today. But it makes very, very strong feeling ab