Here is the last statement of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian spy who died in London last night, dictated from his deathbed on November 21. Below is the tribute made by his father Walter, outside hospital this morning:

"I would like to thank many people. My doctors, nurses and hospital staff who are doing all they can for me; the British police who are pursuing my case with vigour and professionalism and are watching over me and my family. I would like to thank the British Government for taking me under their care. I am honoured to be a British citizen.

"I would like to thank the British public for their messages of support and for the interest they have shown in my plight. I thank my wife, Marina, who has stood by me. My love for her and our son knows no bounds.

"But as I lie here I can distinctly hear the beating of wings of the angel of death. I may be able to give him the slip but I have to say my legs do not run as fast as I would like. I think, therefore, that this may be the time to say one or two things to the person responsible for my present condition.

"You may succeed in silencing me but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed. You have shown yourself to have no respect for life, liberty or any civilised value.

"You have shown yourself to be unworthy of your office, to be unworthy of the trust of civilised men and women. You may succeed in silencing one man but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life.

"May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me but to beloved Russia and its people."

Quotes from Walter Litvinenko's tribute to his son, which was translated by Alex Goldfarb and Andrei Nekrasov, two friends of the former spy:

"A terrible thing happened yesterday. My son died yesterday and he was killed by a little tiny nuclear bomb. It was so little that you could not see it. But the people who killed him have big nuclear bombs and missiles and those people should not be trusted."

"He was very courageous when he met his death and am proud of my son. He was a very honest and good man and we loved him very much. Now he is not with us."

"This regime is a mortal danger to the world. Sasha (Alexander) fought this regime. He understood it, and this regime got him and he is not with us any longer... If we let this go, if we go about our business as usual, this regime will get to all of us."

"Marina and Sasha were the most wonderful couple. They loved each other so much. They were so happy here in London, but the long hand of Moscow got them here on this soil. I feel extremely sorry for Marina, who has lost a wonderful, wonderful husband, as I have lost a wonderful son."

"If this regime falls, and I think it will fall, because a regime with no morality and conscience is doomed, then the street where Alexander was born in the city of Voronezh will be named after him... He will always be in our hearts and in the hearts of the Russian people."