A Fistful of Euros has linked to some intriguing details about the poisoning of Yuschenko:

Tests have revealed that the chemical used to poison Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko was pure TCDD, the most harmful known dioxin. . . .

Scientists say the poison could not have occurred naturally in his blood.

Blood samples taken in Vienna, where Mr Yushchenko was treated, were sent to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, for further analysis.

“It is a single chemical, not a mix,” Prof Abraham Brouwer of the Free University in Amsterdam told the Associated Press.

“This tells us… there is no way it occurred naturally because it is so pure.”

He said there were some small signs which could reveal where it was made.

Initial tests had shown the level of poison in Mr Yushchenko’s blood was more than 6,000 times higher than normal - the second highest level ever recorded in humans.