Gilligan seeks apology, quits BBC
AFP, London
Andrew Gilligan, whose radio report triggered the row between Downing Street and the BBC that preceded the suicide of Iraq weapons expert David Kelly, said on Saturday he has resigned from the public broadcaster.In a statement to Britain's domestic Press Association news agency, Gilligan acknowledged that part of his May 29 report -- which alleged that Downing Street "sexed up" intelligence on Iraq -- was wrong. "I again apologise for it," he said. "My departure (from the BBC) is at my own initiative. But the BBC collectively has been the victim of a grave injustice." "I love the BBC and I am resigning because I want to protect it," he said in his 500-word statement. "I accept my part in the crisis which has befallen the organisation. But a greater part has been played by the unbalanced judgments" contained in Lord Brian Hutton's report into Kelly's death. Gilligan aired the May 29 report on BBC radio alleging that Prime Minister Tony Blair's inner circle had "sexed up" a crucial September 2002 dossier on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction.
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