Gilligan apologises for email error

Andrew Gilligan has apologised for his email to a UK Liberal Democrat MP revealing Dr David Kelly as the source for a story by another BBC journalist.

Mr Gilligan was ordered to submit another witness statement to the inquiry after it emerged he revealed to UK Foreign Affairs Committee member David Chidgey that Dr Kelly was the source for a Newsnight report by Susan Watts.

One of Dr Kelly's colleagues has told the inquiry that the weapons expert was "thrown" by questions he faced at the FAC hearing on July 15 over his contact with Ms Watts.

Recalled to the inquiry to give evidence, Radio 4 Today programme journalist Mr Gilligan blamed "enormous pressure" for his e-mail, adding: "It was quite wrong to send it and I can only apologise."

The defence correspondent refused to reveal his own source but did suggest a list of questions which could be put to the weapons expert - questions which might have backed up his own report.

Mr Gilligan's broadcast on May 29 began the row between the BBC and the UK government when he quoted an anonymous source as saying the claim that Saddam Hussein could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes was inserted into the September dossier late at the request of the Government.

The claim that the dossier was "sexed up" against the wishes of the intelligence community eventually led to Dr Kelly being publicly named as the source and being brought before FAC.

BBC director general Greg Dyke told the Hutton Inquiry earlier this week that the e-mail to Mr Chidgey was "not acceptable".