Submitted by madeleine bunting, Nov 21, 2006 05:40

Harold Evans' report of me is inaccurate and false on several counts. Firstly, I was chairing the panel, not a panelist. If I put 'my hand over the microphone' how did he come to know what I then said? Someone sitting on the platform must have relayed it to him - and I would suggest to Evans that he checks such statements before attributing them (as a good journalist should). I did not say such a thing. The panel was in danger of disintegrating into an abusive slanging match between Julius and Sardar. I intervened, as any chair would, to try to move the debate onto more constructive territory. I would like Evans to withdraw his inaccurate report.

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