Latest News

MAY 2007 - PART ONE

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Bishop Pius Muiru: Promises Kenyan Diaspora Dual Citizenship and Voting Rights if Elected.

Saturday, 19 May 2007

By Philip Gitonga in Boston, Mass. and Chris Wamalwa in Newark, Delaware

Kenya Peoples Party (KPP) presidential candidate Bishop Pius Muiru has promised that should he be elected President, he will immediately grant Kenyans in Diaspora voting rights and dual citizenship. Saying that the diaspora’s continued remittances to the country was a clear indication that they cared about their motherland, Bishop Muiru said the least that their country could do was to appreciate their contributions. “Kenyans in diaspora have the knowledge, comparative experience and resources to bring about quick development. We have to recognize this and take advantage of their renewed interest in being apart of a new Kenya. If I’m elected president, I’ll make this as one of my priorities”. He said.

Outlining his vision for a new Kenya in different States in USA during his recent visit, Bishop Muiru said that apart from dealing with rampant corruption in government, he also intends to make job creation a top priority agenda. “Our youth are suffering and at times forced to engage in illegal activities because they lack jobs. The current government has failed the youth”. To deal with insecurity, Bishop Muiru said should he be elected the president, he would make it hard for anybody to acquire fire arms. “It would be a capital offences to bear arms unless you are part of law enforcement”.

Our youth are suffering and at times forced to engage in illegal activities because they lack jobs. The current government has failed the youth”. To deal with insecurity, Bishop Muiru said should he be elected the president, he would make it hard for anybody to acquire fire arms.

In exclusive interviews with the Kenyan Empowerment Newspaper in Delaware and Massachusetts after preaching at the New Life (Kenyan) Worship Center and appearing on a local Television program in Lowell, Massachusetts respectively, Bishop Muiru said he was not the first religious leader to join politics. “To those who say I’m crossing the threshold between politics and religion, my question to them is, what about the Pope? Isn’t he Pope the political head of the Vatican? Isn’t the Queen of England head of the Commonwealth and wasn’t Dr. Martin Luther King a political leader?” He asked.

Bishop Muiru was in the US on what he called ecclesiastical mission. He visited California, Ohio, Delaware, Massachusetts and North Carolina among other states.

The dynamic, Charismatic and eloquent Bishop heads a Church of over 3000 members. He has also established over 270 churches across the globe. Many refer to him as “Neno linasena” (the word speaks on its own).His church, Maximum Miracle Center is located at the Odeon Cinema Nairobi, Kenya.

Bishop Muiru astounded many people when he announced late last year that he will be contesting the presidency during the forthcoming general elections to be held later this year. He has since launched his vision. He will be vying for the Kamukuji Parliamentary seat on Kenyan Peoples Party ( KPP) of which he is the chairman.

During a TV program interview courtesy of Dr. David Livingstone of Lowell with Good News Ministries which televises its program in Lowell, MA and the southern part of New Hampshire, Philip Gitonga and Rev. Joseph Waiyaki of Community Christian Center –Worcester, MA put the following questions to Bishop Muiru.

Question:
Rev. Wayaki: Bishop Muiru what prompted you to decide to contest the presidency?

Answer:
Bishop Muiru: May I say that as a Kenyan I have a constitutional right to run for the president of Kenya as long as I have attained the age limit and I am able to read and write as it is required by the constitution. This is called the proficiency test. May I also tell you that, they are saying that the economy of Kenya is rising but the moral decadency is at its lowest level possible. It will need a man called of God to reverse this trend and I believe God has called me for such a task.

The other reason I am running is because all the others that are running have been there for as long as I can remember. Kenya should not be a dynasty, just because a father was a president so the son will become a president too? Every Kenyan has a right to vie for the presidential seat.

The Forth reason why I am running for President is because the year 2007 is a year of the Lord. It perfect and in order for me to run for change in Kenya.

Question:
Philip Gitonga: Bishop Muiru, as church minister with a large following in Kenya and abroad, how are you going to reconcile the church leadership given its enormous responsibility and the government leadership? Do you think there is a conflict?

Answer:
Thank you very much Philip, may I submit to you by saying that there are people who say you cannot mix church and politics. May I tell you that church and politics are inseparable because the same people that we minister to in the church are the same people who are involved in politics and there they are one and the same people.

I also have four examples where church leaders are or have been involved in politics.

The Vatican is a country with its own army it’s currency. The leader of Vatican is also the Leader of the biggest church in the world- The Roman Catholic Church. If it has worked for the Vatican and with the Pope it can also work with anybody else.

The other example is the Queen Elizabeth of England. She is the leader of the Commonwealth, which is a political entity and she is also the leader of the Anglican Church. Both are intertwined and have worked and so shall be with Kenya.

“Mombasa has a capacity to be like Dubai, (a free market port) which is the richest in the Middle East.

The Fourth is the late Martin Luther King Jnr. He was a Baptist Minister and if he never went to the street of Montgomery, the civil rights movement would not have started and the African Americans would not be enjoying the freedom they are enjoying to this day. The church has been a sleep too long hearing of the separation of Church and State.

Let me also add that I am not establishing a theocratic system of State in Kenya. We have Hindus, Muslim and many other religions. My party will have all in my cabinet. We want to be an icon of morality in Kenya. For the first time, will have a prayerful president waking up at 4 am to pray.

Asked about his policy on the economy, Bishop Muiru said that his government would work to have Kenya be an economic powerhouse by making the Kilindini harbor in Mombasa a free market port. He said if was well managed; it would be able to sustain the Kenyan economy for one year. “Mombasa has a capacity to be like Dubai, (a free market port) which is the richest in the Middle East. I would work with technocrats and experts to study the modules which made it successful.” He said. He said that this would create jobs for the youth because the major problem that Kenya has was joblessness which brings rebellion and misconduct among the youth.

On foreign policy and what he will do to the Kenyans in the Diaspora, Bishop Muiru said that “We would market our country to other external nations to know that they are welcome to visit Kenya and even do business in the country. For the Kenyans in the Diaspora, “My government will make sure that a law is enacted to allow Kenyan to vote. If the Iraqi’s in the USA can vote I do not see why Kenyans should not vote” He said. “The reason why past regime would not allow you to vote is because they realized the potential the Diaspora has to kick them out of the government. After all, they were the creators of the problems that pushed many Kenyans out due to their mismanagement of public funds and properties.

Kenya being an agricultural nation, Bishop Muiru had this to say when asked what he would do to make it productive and sustainable. “My government will first work on improving the road network and infrastructures. The currents road network is in a mess and no economy can grow in such  conditions”  He also said that he will work with different arms of the government to see that all essential agricultural commodities and equipments that would help farmers produce more efficiently will either have reduced taxes and be given tax breaks. He told the KEN staff that Kenya is one of the highly taxed countries in Africa and yet the services offered are the most dilapidated.

“By the grace of God and the prayers of the people  I hope that I will be the next President of the Republic of Kenya and the MP elect for the Kamukuji constituency.” He concluded.

Visit his website@ www.piusmuiru.co.ke

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ODM-Kenya UK Chapter holds their elections in UK

ODM Kenya UK Chapter has held its first elections in UK on Saturday 19th May 2007 and at the same time announced that several of its members are running for various parliamentary seats for 2007 Kenyan general elections. The new ODM Officials elected to steer the branch to the next level include: Isaac Aluochier –Chairman, Charles Maina Kanyora- Organising Secretary Thomas Musau - Publicity Secretary, Mrs  Marble Mark - Treasurer, Dr Mary  Rogers Orero-Deputy  Organising  Secretary,   Dr  Mary Thompson – Youth Affairs  Secretary  and John Rowland  Otieno. Other officials elected to serve in the ODM –UK Executive Board as ordinary members include Ross Ochwada, Alice Were and Dr Patric Ondire. The highly democratic elections saw seven out of the 13 previous interim official being re-elected. Those who served as interim officials and later re-elected include: Isaac Aluochier, previously a member,   Rogers Orero - previously Deputy Organising Secretary, Marble Mark- previously a member , Joram Odus- previously  deputy treasurer and  Charles Maina Kanyora - previously a Member. There were   a number of  the interim officials who  could not  stand  for any  elective posts because they have  already  declared their interest  to stand  for   parliamentary seats  in Kenya towards the end of the year.

A tree outside the ODM House displayed the message

Mr. Maina Kanyora (holding papers) queuing to take vote the elections

Previous Interim officials standing for various parliamentary seats on ODM tickets in Kenya include:   Former Interim Chair Shabaji Opuka who has declared interest in Butere constituency and former Interim 1st Vice Chairman Ibrahim Ahmed. Other UK-based Kenyan parliamentary aspirants for 2007 elections   include: Dr Kipnyango  Seronei  (Aldai Constituency) , Denis  Orero (Ndhiwa), Alice Were (Bunyala South) and  Isaac Mutula (Matuga). In his acceptance speech the new Chair Mr Isaac Aluochier said Orange Democratic Party was a party of people of high integrity who refused to be compromised for personal gains. He said majority  of the people now  in the ODM  were same people who fund-raised for NARC  five years ago   and now  who  felt   betrayed   by their  party  and  therefore decided to  defect to ODM. He said  “ If  words are not reflected  in actions  people get frustrated … this was why  many our  members have chosen to battle it themselves in  parliament  by  declaring their  interest  in contesting for various   parliamentary  seats in the coming elections.”

Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed the prospective candidate for Wajir East casting his vote	Some of the members  who attended the election.
The prospective candidate for Matuga constiency Mr. Isaac Mutura opening the ballot box	The executive committee posing for a photo after the elections

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TOOK OVER IMMEDIATELY

The executive committee addressing the voters after the elections

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Sofa sets furniture speed record

When it comes to soft furnishings, there is no one quicker than Marek Turowski. The gardener from South London set a world land speed record for furniture by clocking 92mph at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. He said: 'I was terrified.'

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Many Kenyans are illegal but almost none attended this important

Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants Rally, please pass it on

Organizers of the 'Strangers into Citizens March' which took place yesterday Monday the 7th May were absolutely delighted with the turn out of 8,000 plus. Citizens both legal and 'illegal' braved the inclement weather to support the call for 'regularization' for those without status.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor speaking  at the rally in Trafalgar square said: "We know that there are up to half a million immigrants who are undocumented, and some way should be found for these people who work in our country and contribute to our economy so that their rights are respected."

Jack Dromey, a senior official with the TGWU said: "What the public wants is a fair and lasting solution to irregular working. It is simply not possible to hunt down and deport the hundreds of thousands of people who, for a variety of reasons, find themselves without status in this country.

"Instead of blaming migrant workers for every workplace and social misfortune, we need to tackle the real causes of exploitation. We have an immigration system that forces desperate people into the hands of the rogues, a rights framework that views agency workers as second class, and an enforcement system that allows crooks to flourish while ensuring the mistreated stay silent.

"The contribution of migrants to our country today and over the centuries is clear and to be celebrated. But without fresh thinking by government on rights and regularisation, migrant workers in this country will become more deeply marginalized.

"We urge ministers to take their lead from this march and not the immigration fear-mongers - work with this powerful coalition uniting behind regularisation. Together we can help those without status step out of the shadows and benefit all this country's workers in so doing."

Sunday's march & rally was the first major step in the campaign for regularization. More events are in the planning stage, watch our for further announcements, in the meantime get your MP to sigh EDM 1371.

32 MP's Join call for 'Regularization

Jon Cruddas MP Early Day Motion in parliament calling for support for the 'Strangers Into Citizens Campaign"

Contact your MP and ask them to sign EDM 1371. A full contact list for all MP's can be found @ http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/browse/mps/az/0,9379,-272,00.html

Jon Cruddas, Karen Buck, Neil Gerrard, John Bercow, Evan Harris, Diane Abbott, Bob Spink Lynne Jones, Gerald Kaufman, Mark Lazarowicz, Paul Flynn, Hywel Francis, Peter Bottomley, Bob Russell, Kelvin Hopkins, Alan Meale, Sandra Osborne, Martin Caton, Janet Dean, Andrew George, Ian Gibson, Mike Hancock, John Battle, Peter Soulsby, Glenda Jackson, Tony Lloyd, Chris McCafferty, Jeremy Corbyn, Ann Cryer, Rudi Vis, Clare Short, David Anderson,

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message: NCADC

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More than 18,000 stripped in Mexoco City

"And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness

of the land ye are come." - Genesis 42:12

This was Tunick's biggest nude shoot yet, beating his previous best turnout of 7,000 in Barcelona in 2003.	Tunick has made a name for himself by staging mass nude photo shoots in cities from London to Buenos Aires. Even chilly Newcastle got in on the act. Although it doesn't look too balmy here, either...
Tunick's naked volunteers first posed upright, giving a military-style salute, before crouching in foetal positions to form a sea of flesh.	Tunick, who has raised more than a few eyebrows with his naked ambition, directs his shoots with a megaphone.
In Tunick's work, the nude form becomes abstract due to the large number of people positioned so closely together.	The shoot was held in Mexico City's Zocalo square after Tunick was refused permission to take his snaps at the Teotihuacan pyramids.
In 2006, Tunick took his celebration of the nude to Caracas, where he had some 1,500 people pose naked near a statue of Venezuela's national hero Simon Bolivar.	This was the moment in Newcastle in 2005 when 1,700 people stripped off for Tunick and made their way across the Gateshead Millennium Bridge spanning the River Tyne.

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Narc-Kenya launching in the US

The Chairman, Narc-kenya USA , Mr. Dan Mbuthia, Hon. Mutahi kagwe, Secretary General, Douglas Gitari and Hon. Dzoro present the Narc-kenya flag to supporters

On Saturday April 14th (evening) in San Francisco area (Oakland ca), three Government ministers launched a Narc-Kenya chapter in the US in a colourful ceremony that was attended  by over 500 Kenyans in Oakland, California. Present were: Hon. Mutahi  Kagwe, Minister for Information and Communications, Hon. Rev. Morris Dzoro, Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Peter Munya, Assistant Minister for Internal Security, Peter Rateng Ogego, Kenyan Ambassador to the USA, and Consul General in Los Angeles, California-Nyambura Kamau.

Kenyans in the Diaspora who spoke before the three Ministers raised various issues that they would like the Government to address. These included dual citizenship, being allowed to vote and chart the political destiny of their country and making it easy for them to remit their money back home for investment purposes instead of relying on relatives who might dupe them as is currently the practice. They also proposed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up a special desk to deal specifically with concerns of Kenyans in the Diaspora.

Hon. Mutahi Kagwe presents a Narc Kenya flag to the chairman of Narc-Kenya USA Chapter Mr. Dan Mbuthia during the official launch in Oakland Ca on Saturday14th of April 2007. Also in the picture looking on is secretary General, Douglas Gitari, Hon. Morris Dzoro and Executive officer Hezron Mugo(left). Mr. Fannuel Mugendi the executive director pictured at the back was the master of ceremony

Supporters filled every nook and crany

when they rose to respond, Hon. Munya said it is time that Kenyans learnt to appreciate what the current administration is striving to do for the country in the economic front. He said that the revenue base has improved from 186 billion in 2002 to over 450 billion currently. He said that the current opposition in Kenya are not interested in giving Kenyans a new constitution only in politicking as they have already started taking hardline positions by giving conditions of what is negotiable. He called on those in Government who wish to criticize it to resign first as it is hypocritical to continue criticizing the Government from within.

Cabinet Minister Dzoro said that the economy was improving and the reasons were all there for those who have eyes to see. He said today there are 42 chartered flights flying directly to Mombasa from Europe. He said very soon, Coast Province will have its first University since independence as the money is there: it is only the question of where to site it. He also said that international airlines have started flying into Nairobi like Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Singapore Airlines etc. He called on Kenyans to emulate Israelites who only think of building their motherland and not to destroy it. He told the Kenyans in the US that the whole world enjoyed the organisational acumen of Kenyans through the successful hosting of the World cross country championships in Mombasa last month.

The secretary General, Mr. Douglas Gitari

The Chairman, Mr. Dan Mbuthia

Another executive officer Mr. Mike Mwicigi Keenly follows the proceedings

Mutahi told the gathering that their visit to the US was to look for investors in the ICT, tourism and filming industry in Kenya. He told them that they had already met senior representatives from the film industry, namely from CBS, Warner Brothers and Paramount Studios in California. He told them he is scheduled to visit Google, Helwett Packard, Oracle as well as meet prospective investors like Ross Perot Jr. of Peros systems in Texas from Monday next week.

He informed the Kenyans on the exciting developments taking place in the ICT sector back in Kenya like the TEAMS cable from Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to Mombasa and the Eassy project from Durban, in South Africa to Mombasa as well as money transfer services like M-Pesa by Safaricom and Posta-pay. He said this is expected to have positive effects in the economic sphere like health, education, trade and outsourcing business. He invited Kenyans in the Diaspora to quickly consider investing in the IPO's such as Safaricom and Telkom Kenya that will be advertised later in the year. He said international companies like Microsoft, Ericsson and Nokia had set up regional offices in Nairobi due to the favourable investment conditions existing in Kenya today.

All the three cabinet Ministers called on Kenyans to re-elect the current Government to allow it to continue with the good programmes that it has initiated that were improving the standard of living of Kenyans. They asked Kenyans not to believe everything they read or hear about Kenya as some of these were lies being peddled by members of the opposition who only wanted to grab power for the sake of power without the interests and welfare of Kenyans at heart.

On the right is Mr. Tim Kang’ethe and Mr. Mwangi overseeing the mammoth crowd. In the front is a young supporter who didn’t want to miss anything.

Also present were Narc Kenya USA officials: Chairman-Mr. Dan, Mbuthia, secretary general-Douglas Gitari and Treasurer Mr. Kisabuli M. The ministers presented a NARC Kenya constitution to the secretariat's chairman. The chairman explained how the new chapter will function by changing the tone in the international media and also fundraising, strategizing, and endorsing, candidates and that Kenya needs but not those that need Kenya. He also  called on the Diaspora community to abandon the 'prodigal' position and rise up and participate in the motherland's affairs. 'Never again should you be viewed as prodigals but as ambassadors instead' he thundered.

The chairman, Dan Mbuthia and Secretary General, Douglas Gitari march in.

On Sunday the 15th the three cabinet Ministers spoke to Kenyans living in Sacramento, the capital of California. They re-iterated the case for the current government again. The chairman invited the crowd to buy Narc Kenya membership cards as a show of commitment and solidarity to the government 's cause. Do not hesitate to contact me should need arise using the number below.

Yours faithfully,

Dan Mbuthia
NARC Kenya USA, chairman
510-410-9264 (Los Angeles, California) - email danmbuthia@yahoo.com

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A Kenyan family in UK loose

their house through fire

Rev. Duncan Bundi Ibuuri and his wife

A Kenyan priests and his family in the UK have lost everything in their house after house fire while they were asleep. They are now living with neighbours. We are appearing to Kenyans in the UK and elsewhere to help this family financially or with prayers. Rev. Duncan Bundi Ibuuri explains how it all happed: "The fire broke out on Saturday 31st march 2007, at around 4-5 in the morning. We managed to escape from the house unhurt. I called the fire brigade and they had a job to put off the fire. We don't know what caused the fire. The house was extensively destroyed and our valuables perishing but we are thankful to God we are all fine. The neighbours were very kind to us. They gave us a shelter to keep us away from the cold. We are homeless in which we stayed with friends for a few days until things with the insurance were sorted out. We become the headline in the local newspapers and it also went into the news that morning. "Blaze forces family to flee their home." Through God's grace, I was able to carry on with the holy week services. We are now living at a temporary accommodation at 175 Rosehill Road, Ipswich, IP3 8HB, Suffolk, U.K. "  Rev. Ibuuri continues.

The remains of the family house

The children of Rev. Ibuuri

"Our Tel. 01473254190, and email dibuuri@yahoo.co.uk or ibwri@aol.com. We were able to get some basic things to use from a Charity called FIND based in Ipswich and also members of Alan Road Methodist Church have been very helpful to us of which we are very thankful. It is unfortunate that we had no content insurance. Sometimes we never think such things can happen. We have really learned in a very hard way as we had nowhere to turn to and many people cannot understand why we did not have the necessary insurance cover. If there is anyone out there like us, it is something to take seriously as we do know when Satan might strike. In case, any one may want to get in touch with us or help us in any way, we will greatly appreciate. Our account is as shown here below:-

Name- Rev Duncan Bundi Ibuuri, NatWest Bank - Account No: 64114910, Sort Code:536124 

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He resigned losing £15 million in cash and shares

London, Tuesday 1st May, 2007. Lord Browne, multi-millionaire chief executive of BP, has dramatically resigned after he admitted lying on oath to a High Court judge. The 59-year-old, once one of Britain's most powerful businessmen, could face a charge of perjury or perverting the course of justice. He will also lose £15 million in cash and shares he would have received if he had retired, as he planned, in July.

Lavish gifts: Lord Browne had a four-year relationship with Jeff Chevalier and was said to have made substantial payments to him

He lied to the court about how he met 27-year-old Mr Chevalier - they split up last year after four years together

Browne, once known as the "Sun King" of the oil industry, stood down after losing a four-month legal battle against the Mail on Sunday newspaper. He had tried to keep secret allegations that he misused BP funds, facilities and staff to help run a mobile phone business for his then gay lover, Jeff Chevalier. But a ruling handed down by Mr Justice Eady yesterday laid bare the scandalous lies Lord Browne had been prepared to tell to protect himself from the scrutiny of shareholders and the BP board. He lied to the court about how he met 27-year-old Mr Chevalier - they split up last year after four years together - and falsely accused the young Canadian of having drink and drug problems. Lord Browne had claimed in court that his right to privacy was being invaded, even though many of Mr Chevalier's allegations involved his business activities.

They included claims that:

• BP computers and support staff were used to run Mr Chevalier's business.

• BP executives were persuaded to act as directors in the lover's company.

• Browne's personal assistant acted as the Canadian's secretary and a senior BP employee carried cash between the lovers.

• The BP boss paid for a university course in Britain so his partner could stay in the country on a student visa.

• Lord Browne paid for renovations to his flat in Venice with cash and "dodged" a tax bill - an allegation he vehemently denies. Mr Chevalier, a computer operator from Toronto, shared Browne's millionaire lifestyle for four years, staying in luxury homes - including one owned by a "well-known entertainer" rumoured to be Sir Elton John - travelling by private jet and wearing £2,000 designer suits.

He became Browne's acknowledged partner and was invited to high-profile dinners with friends and contacts, including Peter Mandelson, formerly Tony Blair's senior aide and now a European trade commissioner. Browne also told him details of conversations he had with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The life peer - ennobled by Mr Blair in 2001 - fought in the High Court and Appeal Court in a bid to gag Mr Chevalier before finally running out of legal options this week. His defeat meant the lifting of an injunction which had prevented any details being published. In the course of his disastrous legal action, Lord Browne lied for two weeks about how he met Mr Chevalier, claiming their paths crossed by chance while he was "exercising in Battersea Park" near his five-storey Chelsea mansion. It was, according to Mr Justice Eady, a "deliberate and casual lie". But the judge banned the true version of their meeting from being disclosed.

In an attempt to smear his former lover and discredit his evidence, Lord Browne told the court Mr Chevalier was "a liar, unstable and adversely affected by dependence on alcohol and illegal drugs". But medical records proved this was false, and a clearly angry Judge Eady was scathing in his assessment of Browne's testimony. He accused the BP boss of launching a pre-emptive strike against Mr Chevalier's credibility "so that, when his evidence was submitted, I should be pre-disposed to reject it."The judge went on: "I am not prepared to make allowances for a 'white lie' told to the court in circumstances such as these - especially by a man who prays in aid his reputation and distinction and refers to the various honours he has received under the present government when asking the court to prefer his account.

"It may be that it should be addressed as contempt or as some other form of criminal offence."The judge said later he would not be taking the matter further but The Mail on Sunday, sister paper of the Daily Mail, which is seeking to publish Mr Chevalier's account, announced it will be making its evidence on the case available to the Attorney-General. A spokesman said: "The Mail on Sunday deplores the fact that, despite lying to the court, Lord Browne was granted an injunction suppressing information of great importance both to the millions of Britons who, through their pensions, are shareholders in BP, and to the tens of thousands who work for the company. "It was in seeking an injunction to suppress this story that Lord Browne lied about his private life, thereby making it central to the case.

"By exploiting the legal process to delay publication of his lie to the court, Lord Browne has prevented further important information about his stewardship of BP and misuse of company facilities from being made known either to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board inquiry into the Texas City oil refinery disaster [which killed 15 people in March 2005], or to shareholders challenging his pension package at the company's recent AGM."Lord Browne, who was due to retire in July after 11 years as chief executive and 41 years with the oil company, said last night it was a "matter of deep regret" that he lied over how he met Mr Chevalier. But he insisted the Canadian's allegations were "full of misleading and erroneous claims. In particular, I deny categorically any allegations of improper conduct relating to BP."

BP confirmed it had reviewed allegations of misuse of company assets but concluded they were "unfounded or insubstantive."Lord Browne said he was resigning to "avoid unnecessary embarrassment and distraction" to BP. His designated successor, Tony Hayward, will take over immediately. The outgoing BP boss said: "I have always regarded my sexuality as a personal matter, to be kept private. It is a matter of personal disappointment that a newspaper group has decided that allegations about my personal life should be made public."

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Off to Pluto we go

A 200-mile high plume shoots from a volcano on Io, one of Jupiter's largest moons

HAVE A GREAT DAY