Former Daily Telegraph owner Conrad Black stepped down as chairman and chief executive of Hollinger Incorporated today.

Embattled Conrad Black is to appeal against a ruling in a US court blocking a deal to sell control of his newspaper empire, which includes The Daily Telegraph, to British businessmen, the Barclay brothers.

Newspaper baron Conrad Black should have received notice before a court entered an emergency order restricting his authority to replace the board of directors of holding company Hollinger International, a federal judge ruled in Chicago.

An adviser to Daily Telegraph owner Hollinger International testified in the US that Conrad Black, the company’s founder, threatened members of a special committee investigating suspect payments he received.

Hollinger Inc. has sued its Chicago-based subsidiary, Hollinger International, to prevent it from blocking a proposed sale of a controlling interest in the publishing company.

Hollinger Inc., the Toronto-based holding company controlled by newspaper baron Lord Black of Crossharbour, announced that one of its independent directors has stepped down just four days after being named to the post.

THE billionaire Barclay brothers added the Daily Telegraph to their portfolio of British newspapers after agreeing a £260 million (€377m) takeover of Hollinger Inc.