Substantial chance Russia poisoned Navalny – Mike Pompeo

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo says there is a substantial chance that the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was ordered by senior officials in Moscow.

Mr Pompeo said the US was evaluating how it would respond.

NATO and Germany say there is proof beyond doubt that Mr Navalny was attacked with a Novichok nerve agent.

Mr Pompeo’s comments contrast with President Donald Trump who has refused to condemn Moscow.

Mr Navalny was airlifted to Berlin from Russia after falling ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow last month.

The 44-year-old was brought out of an induced coma earlier this week with doctors at Berlin’s Charité hospital saying he was responding to verbal stimuli but it was too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.