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There are also reports that the now-defunct News of the World bribed a royal protection officer for information on the royal family.

As the new allegations surfaced, current prime minister David Cameron's government announced that Mr Murdoch's bid to take over satellite broadcaster BSkyB would be referred to Britain's competition commission.

The new reports said News International journalists targeted Mr Brown while he was chancellor of the exchequer and then prime minister.

The then-editor of the Sun, current News International boss Rebekah Brooks, is said to have phoned the Browns to say the paper had obtained the medical file of their four-month-old son Fraser, which revealed the boy had cystic fibrosis.

The paper broke the story that the boy had cystic fibrosis in 2006.

Ms Brooks has maintained she neither authorised the hacking nor knew it was taking place.

It was one of a number of stories targeting Mr Brown, who was reportedly also hacked by the Sunday Times. Both papers are stablemates of Mr Murdoch's doomed News of the World tabloid.

The latest claims about the News of the World say the paper paid a royal protection officer for Buckingham Palace's 'Green Book', which includes the phone numbers and other contact details of the royal family, including the Queen.

Former News of the World deputy features editor Paul McMullan appeared to confirm the practices were commonplace.

"I paid someone who was looking after someone's security who wasn't at that time... well, it doesn't really matter," he said when asked about payments to the police.

"I've actually been told not to talk about specifics in case I implicate myself.

"But that was the kind of money that was available for good stories. And the best story of all throughout the '90s until she died was Princess Diana.

"The features desk at the News Of The World knew where she was going, which plane she was going to catch, what guy she was with... we knew her itinerary before she did."

Scotland Yard, which is leading inquiries into phone hacking and allegations of corruption at the tabloid, joined the fray with an unusual statement on Monday condemning the reports as part of a "deliberate" attempt to undermine the probe.

It said they had agreed in meetings with News International and their lawyers to keep certain information confidential.

"We are extremely concerned and disappointed that the continuous release of selected information - that is only known by a small number of people - could have a significant impact on the corruption investigation," Scotland Yard said.

Last edited by Jaekus (2011-07-11 16:53:34)

The former president, vice-president, defence secretary and head of the CIA should all be investigated, the group says.

"There are solid grounds to investigate [George] Bush, [former vice-president Dick] Cheney, [former defence secretary Donald] Rumsfeld, and [former CIA director George] Tenet for authorising torture and war crimes," said Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch's executive director.

"President Obama has treated torture as an unfortunate policy choice rather than a crime.

"His decision to end abusive interrogation practices will remain easily reversible unless the legal prohibition against torture is clearly re-established."

In its 107-page report, HRW claims there is substantial information warranting criminal investigations of Mr Bush and his senior officials for ordering practises such as waterboarding, the use of secret CIA prisons and the transfer of detainees to countries where they were tortured.

Mr Bush has said he followed the advice of his legal advisers, who told him, for example, that the use of waterboarding on several Guantanamo inmates was legal.

The failure to investigate officials undermines US efforts to press for accountability for human rights violations abroad in countries like Libya and Sri Lanka, the group argues.

FEOS wrote:

Kmar wrote:

Bachmann beats Romney in new Iowa poll  .. no faggin way, roll eyezz
http://wapo.st/mVlVjj

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But I had heard the same thing. She's from Iowa, though. She's banking on that. Obama lost in Iowa, IIRC.

The Commons media committee also wants to question News Corporation's Rupert and James Murdoch but cannot force them to appear as they are not UK citizens.

In a written statement, Mr Rockefeller said he was concerned that hacking by News Corporation journalists may have extended to American targets, including victims of the 11 September attacks.

He did not present any evidence to support that claim, but called on the authorities to look into any possible wrong-doing.

"I encourage the appropriate agencies to investigate to ensure that Americans have not had their privacy violated," he said.

Last edited by Dilbert_X (2011-07-14 01:56:29)

Dilbert_X wrote:

Anyone give me odds of Murdoch going to prison?