Ex-Russian spy in poison attack no longer in critical condition, hospital says

Former Russian spy SergeiSkripal is no longer in critical condition and his health isimproving rapidly more than a month after he was poisoned with anerve agent, the British hospital treating him said on Friday.

Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious, slumpedon a public bench, in the English city of Salisbury on March 4.

Britain said they were poisoned with a military-grade nerveagent first developed by the Soviet Union. Russia has denied ithad anything to do with the first known use of such a toxin onEuropean soil since World War II.

Sergei Skripal"is responding well to treatment, improving rapidly andis no longer in a critical condition," Christine Blanshard, medical director at Salisbury District Hospital, said in astatement.

Blanshard said she was providing the update in response to"intense media coverage yesterday."

On Thursday, British police released the first public comments from Yulia Skripal, quotingher as saying she's getting stronger by the day.

As well, Russian state television reported Yulia hadphoned her cousin,ViktoriaSkripal,andtold her that she and her father were bothrecovering, and she expected to leave hospital soon.

In the phone call recording released by Russian statenews agency RIA-Novosti, Yulia Skripal said she and her father were both recovering and that her father's health was not irreparably damaged.

Viktoria, who works as a chief accountant in the city of Yaroslavl, Russia, saidFridayshe had recorded the call because she had an app on her phone that tracks calls she makes for work.

She said she had hoped to travel to Britain to visit Sergei and Yulia, but the British government had denied her a visa because her application "did not comply with the immigration rules."

Moscow wants explanationsregarding Britain's refusal to issue the visa, Russian Foreign Ministry spokespersonMaria Zakharovatold RIA-NovostiFriday.

Britain has said Russia is responsible for the attack, whileMoscow denies any involvement. The incident has had major diplomatic ramifications, with mass expulsions of Russian andWestern diplomats.