Gongadze : Conflicting reports on his death

The first question which the American experts may wish to verify is whether the samples used in the Russian and German tests taken from the same body.

This may seem bizarre, when what is at issue is a headless corpse, which has been so badly mutilated that no identifying marks remain.

But the samples which were sent independently to Germany were taken from the body when it lay in a mortuary in Terashche, 70km (40 miles) from Kiev.

Confusion

That body then disappeared. And it was only after a headless corpse was revealed in a mortuary in Kiev, that the Ukrainian authorities agreed to allow tests to be made by Russian specialists in Moscow.

These first gave a result which suggested that the body could be that of Mr Gongadze.

A few weeks later, this was upgraded to a positive identification.

But then came the results from Germany, which threw the whole situation into confusion once more.

The row over the headless corpse has developed into a full-scale political crisis for Mr Kuchma

Tape recordings made in the president's office shortly before Mr Gongadze disappeared, allegedly reveal Mr Kuchma saying that he wanted Mr Gongadze dealt with.

After initially denying the authenticity of the tapes, Mr Kuchma now admits that they are genuine, but claims they have been edited to change what he said.

The row over the headless corpse has developed into a full-scale political crisis for Mr Kuchma.

There have been demonstrations all over the country calling for his resignation.

And even if the American experts can finally confirm whether or not the headless corpse in Kiev is that of Mr Gongadze, that won't end the political scandal.