The 59-year-old civil servant was an expert in arms control

Dr Kelly was found dead in woods near his Oxfordshire home on 17 July after taking his own life.

Earlier on Friday, his body was released to his family for burial.

The 59-year-old scientist hit the headlines after being named as the source for a BBC report on the Iraq war.

The MoD issued a statement designed to counter what it called "continuing inaccurate media speculation".

It reiterated the MoD did not threaten Dr Kelly's pension or threaten him with action under the Official Secrets Act.

The MoD has already said Dr Kelly's "punishment" has been described as a verbal reprimand and no more.

And officials have said that at one point, the scientist was offered alternative accommodation, but that he declined to take it.

The statement on Friday added that Dr Kelly "did not spend time in a government safe house".

Dr Kelly became the focus of media attention after a BBC journalist claimed that an intelligence source had accused the government, and in particular the prime minister's communications director Alastair Campbell, of exaggerating the evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capability.

Slashed wrist

Dr Kelly's name emerged in the press and he was quizzed about whether he was the BBC's mole in a televised session of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into the decision to go to war with Iraq.

Dr Kelly told the MPs that he did not think he was the main source for the original BBC report, claiming that a dossier outlining the threat from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction had been "sexed up" to improve the case for war.

The allegation became the source of a bitter row between the government and the BBC.

Dr Kelly apparently took his own life by slashing his wrist.

An open packet of co-proxamol painkillers was found next to his body along with a bladed instrument.

Thames Valley Police said the results of toxicology tests have been received, but these will not be revealed until a full inquest takes place.

The release of his body will allow his widow Janice and three daughters to make funeral arrangements.