Murdoch called to face parliamentary committee

Rupert Murdoch and two senior executives have been called before an British parliamentary committee to answer questions about the growing phone-hacking scandal that has shaken his UK newspaper group.

Labour MP Tom Watson, who sits on parliament's culture, media and sport committee, said the panel wanted to speak to Mr Murdoch, his son James Murdoch, and Rebekah Brooks, who runs News Corp's British newspaper arm News International.

They would be asked about the phone hacking crisis that led to the closure of the News of the World newspaper and about allegations that some of his staff may have paid police officers for information.

"We've invited them next Tuesday, we'll be waiting for them to attend," Mr Watson told ABC TV's Lateline.

"They've left the UK in a fury so I think they've got a lot of questions to answer."

Mr Watson said Mr Murdoch owed the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowling an apology after her phone was hacked.

"People working for him hacked the phone of an abducted girl," he said.

"He must have known there was a toxic culture in the newsroom of one of his papers, but they tried to cover up.

"We're involved in what is essentially the investigation of a cover-up and Rupert Murdoch will eventually have to answer to that.

"I'm pretty certain now we'll get to the truth."

In a statement, News International said it would "cooperate" with the request.

A News International spokeswoman declined to elaborate and would not say if that means the three will go before the committee.

"We have been made aware of the request from the CMS Committee to interview senior executives and will cooperate. We await the formal invitation," the statement said.

The invitation to Mr Murdoch comes as senior police officers, including Scotland Yard assistant commissioner John Yates, appeared before the parliament's home affairs committee.

Mr Yates decided in 2009 not to reopen a probe into the phone hacking scandal, and told the MPs that decision was a matter of regret.

He also said he was sure his own phone was targeted.

"I am 99 per cent sure that my phone was hacked during the period 2005-06," Yates said during questioning by a committee of British politicians.

Asked whether fears that his private life being targeted by the newspaper may have impacted upon his investigation, he said: "I categorically state that is not the case."

He blamed the newspaper for failing to cooperate fully with police or to hand over documents about the illegal practice.