Murdoch to tackle fresh newspaper crisis - at Britain's Sun

Feb 16, 2012, 20:24 GMT

London - International media mogul Rupert Murdoch was to take charge on Friday of the latest crisis involving one of his leading newspaper titles.

The 80-year-old tycoon is to address staff at the tabloid Sun newspaper, following the arrest of five senior journalists in connection with corruption allegations.

The five men, including some in senior positions at the paper, have since been released on bail. The arrests brought to 10 the total number of Sun journalists questioned over 'corrupt payments to the police and public officials' since November.

In an initial response to the arrests, Murdoch dismissed fresh speculation over the future of the Sun, a tabloid with a daily circulation of 2.7 million.

He remained totally committed 'to continue to own and publish' the newspaper, a spokesman for Murdoch said. However, he has also repeatedly stressed that his company, News Corporation, has no choice but to cooperate with the police in the current investigations.

The arrests at the Sun, which have been sharply condemned by fellow journalists at the paper, followed last year's phone hacking scandal at the News of the World, another of Murdoch's papers, which he subsequently closed down.

The Australian-born magnate, who has US citizenship, also owns the Times newspaper in Britain. He withdrew a bid for the full takeover of BSkyB news channel at the height of the furore over the phone hacking scandal.