NOTW closes, ex-editor arrested

THE SCANDAL surrounding scandal sheet News of the World claimed its largest victim yesterday with the announcement that the tabloid will close, and today its ex-editor has been arrested over alleged phone hacking and payments to police.

The newspaper will publish its final issue this Sunday after almost two centuries of muckraking.

Yesterday in a statement James Murdoch, chairman and CEO of NOTW owner News Corporation, confirmed that Sunday's issue will be the newspaper's last, and that it will run with no paid-for advertisements.

"We will run no commercial advertisements this weekend. Any advertising space in this last edition will be donated to causes and charities that wish to expose their good works to our millions of readers," he wrote in a message to staff.

"These are strong measures. They are made humbly and out of respect. I am convinced they are the right thing to do."

Meanwhile, the Old Bill has fingered the collar of ex-NOTW editor and former Tory party communications chief Andy Coulson and pulled him in for interrogation.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Service said that it had "arrested a member of the public [Coulson] in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking."

In reference to two investigations, one concerning the phone hacks at the NOTW, and the other allegations of police bribes, the Met added, "At 10:30 officers from the MPS' Operation Weeting together with officers from Op Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977 and on suspicion of corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906."

"The man, aged 43 years, was arrested by appointment at a south London police station. He is currently in custody."

Coulson, who left the News of the World in disgrace, was most recently employed by David Cameron as his chief communications adviser. If what we read about the extent of the allegations is correct, there cannot be much that he does not know about communications and their interception.

"Unfortunately, continued coverage of events connected to my old job at the News of the World has made it difficult for me to give the 110 percent needed in this role," he said in a statement announcing his resignation as Cameron's communications chief in February.

"I stand by what I've said about those events but when the spokesman needs a spokesman it's time to move on."

The now former spokesman needs more than a spokesman, he needs a good lawyer. µ