Pound of cyanide found in dead man's room

updated 2:20 p.m. ET Aug. 13, 2008

DENVER - About a pound of highly toxic sodium cyanide was found inside a hotel room where a 29-year-old Canadian man's body was discovered, authorities in Denver said.

Police said foul play was not suspected and FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright said Wednesday there was no apparent connection to terrorism.

The man's body was found Monday at the Burnsley Hotel about four blocks from the Colorado state Capitol, and investigators said he had been dead for several days.

Police on Wednesday identified a white powder found in the room as sodium cyanide, which can be used as a pesticide or to extract gold from ore. Cyanide is a fast-acting chemical that prevents the body from processing oxygen.

The medical examiner's office said it was awaiting test results to determine whether cyanide killed the man who was identified as Saleman Abdirahman Dirie from Ottawa.

Please check back for more details on this developing story.

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