UK NEWS

UK NEWS: JUNE 2004

From the Desk of Maximillien de Lafayette, Overseas Bureau Chief and Senior Foreign Correspondent

The man heading London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics has failed to stop two Sunday tabloids publishing details about an alleged secret affair.

Lord Coe

Photo: Lord Coe is heading London's bid to stage the Olympic Games

Lord Coe, the former Olympic gold medallist, had sought the High Court injunctions against The Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror. He said his privacy was being breached after the newspapers planned to report a woman's claims of a ten-year affair.

Free press: Lord Coe's lawyer, speaking in the High Court, had cited the House of Lords recent privacy ruling in favour of the model Naomi Campbell against the Daily Mirror. Patrick Milmo QC, argued that the Campbell ruling meant Lord Coe's private information could not be "misused". But the judge, Mr Justice Fulford, found that Lord Coe's right to privacy was outweighed by the woman's right to disclose details and the right of a free press to publish them. He also said: "I do not consider there to be a real prospect of success that any injunction granted would become permanent." The newspapers said it was an important ruling for the freedom of the press. Paul Mottram, the Sunday Mirror's legal adviser, said: "It shows that even after the Naomi Campbell case, people cannot expect to have affairs and run to the court to keep it quiet." Earlier this month, the former athlete and Tory MP became chairman of the bid to stage the Olympics in London. His appointment came after the capital city was short listed to go through to the final stages of deciding which city wins the opportunity to hold the games.

Elvis Presley's music has spent more time on the UK charts than he spent alive, chart researchers say.

Elvis Presley Presley's records have featured in UK charts for 47 years and two months - nearly five years longer than he was alive. Elvis died in 1977 aged 42. The survey of both singles and albums charts by the Guinness Book of Hit Singles found Cliff Richard second. The Beatles came in third place, with rock band Queen fourth and Madonna in fifth - the only woman in the top ten. Phil Collins and Sir Paul McCartney are the only artists to appear in the top 50 list twice.

Lennon lyric: Collins is included for his solo career and as part of the group Genesis, while Sir Paul is featured for both the Beatles and his own recordings. Oasis (27) and Robbie Williams (50) are the only two acts from the 1990s to feature in the list. Other acts appearing include Michael Jackson (nine), U2 (ten), Fleetwood Mac (18), the Bee Gees (31) and Madness (43). Meanwhile, a line from John Lennon's classic song Imagine has been voted the most popular song lyric.The line: "Imagine all the people, Living life in peace..." was voted ahead of lines in Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Robbie Williams' Angels.

A British oil company executive was among those killed by militants in a shoot-out in Saudi Arabia, his company said on Sunday.

Saudi police and security watch the bodies of victims in Khobar

Photo: Details of the casualties have been slow to emerge.

A spokesman said Michael Hamilton was shot dead in his car at the start of the attack on a compound in Khobar, in which about 10 people lost their lives. Believed to be in his 50s, Mr Hamilton was a senior executive for Apicorp, the Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation. The Foreign Office has yet to confirm whether any Britons were killed.

Attack condemned: A spokesman said it was still investigating reports that British nationals may have been caught up in the attacks on compounds in the Saudi city. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has condemned the attack, claimed by a group with apparent links to al-Qaeda. Saudi sources said on Sunday morning that most of the 50 or so hostages held by the gunmen had now been freed. Overnight some 40 troops were dropped onto the roof of the compound by helicopters, amid sporadic gunfire. The Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, said there had been casualties among the hostages. They were taken captive on Saturday after the militants killed at least 10 people, including foreigners.

Continues on the following pages.