New body to look at Litvinenko & Politkovskaya murders

A new body has been created to oversee the investigation of complicated criminal cases, and corruption by politicians and public servants. Russia's Investigation Committee is a branch of the Prosecutor's Office.

Aleksandr Bastrykin, who is also Russia's Deputy Prosecutor General, will become Chairman of Russia's Investigation Committee.

Mr Bastrykin says the new Investigation Committee will look into the source of the radioactive substance that poisoned the former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko last year.

A special team of prosecutors has also been established by the Investigation Committee to take over the murder case of Russian Journalist, Anna Politkovskaya. Mr Bastrykin says they are exploring a number of theories surrounding her death, and he is hopeful of a successful result.