Daily Mirror editor Mr Piers Morgan is to be called before an influential committee of British MPs to answer questions about his paper's publication of controversial photographs of UK troops apparently beating an Iraqi prisoner, it was announced tonight.
The House of Commons Defence Select Committee said it hoped to question Mr Morgan "at an early opportunity".
The publication of the photos last Saturday provoked a storm of controversy, with questions raised in some quarters about their authenticity.
The Mirror has staunchly defended the accuracy of its story, which it says was provided by two serving soldiers in the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
Mr Morgan is expected to be questioned as part of a Defence Committee inquiry into continuing UK operations in Iraq.
Tonight, the committee released a statement saying: "We have decided that we will take an early opportunity to call the editor of the Daily Mirror to appear before us.
"This will give him a chance to substantiate his newspaper's allegations. It will enable us to satisfy ourselves whether he and his staff have acted responsibly in how they have handled this matter.
"We will hold this session in the context of our already announced inquiry into the continuing operations in Iraq.
