The British government publicly challenged the BBC today to answer questions on its reporting standards.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman reeled off a dozen questions for the British Broadcasting Corporation, one day after Mr Blair's communications supremo, Mr Alastair Campbell, accused it of biased reporting on Iraq and of slandering his name.
Mr Blair's spokesman said: "Does the BBC still stand by the allegation that both we and the intelligence agencies knew the 45-minute claim was wrong? Why did BBC journalists not check the story with us before broadcast? Is this now normal BBC practice?" he asked.The government is locked in a battle with the BBC over a claim officials doctored intelligence on Iraq.
The spat erupted after the BBC, citing an anonymous intelligence source, said Mr Campbell had "sexed up" a dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Iraq's arsenal was the main Anglo-American motive for war but the failure to discover any weapons has severely damaged the British government's credibility.
An indignant Mr Campbell yesterday accused the BBC of lying and demanded an apology. But he also managed to turn the raging weapons debate into a high-profile scrap with the BBC.