Media Guardian

By Leigh Holmwood

24 October 2006

The Ministry of Defence has said it could take legal action over a series of ITV News reports last week that featured injured soldiers returning from war zones.

The ministry yesterday wrote to ITN, which produces news bulletins for ITV, with a detailed letter of complaint about the reports concerning the medical treatment in an NHS hospital of soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

In the letter, the MoD said it had particular concern about the "invasion of privacy" of one wounded soldier, and said it could take legal action over it or report ITN to Ofcom.

An MoD source said ITN reporters had now been banned from being embedded with troops until the news broadcaster had responded to its concerns.

"You should be under no illusions about the level of anger that exists as a result of items you carried on your programmes," said the letter to ITN, written by a senior official.

"To be clear: we are not seeking to stop you reporting on Iraq or Afghanistan, speaking to our spokespeople here or in theatre(s) or reporting the news.

"However, until we have satisfactory answers ... the MoD feels unable to guarantee that our people will be treated fairly, honestly and their privacy respected. Can you give me that reassurance?"

An MoD source said it was still waiting on a reply from ITN.

ITV News screened the reports in its 6.30pm and 10.30pm bulletins last week, with the cooperation of the MoD.

However, the ministry branded the final reports a "hatchet job", with a source saying it had particular concerns with two reports.

ITV News said today it would study the letter from the MoD before commenting further.

The ITV News editor-in-chief, David Mannion, said: "We are in correspondence with the Ministry of Defence seeking clarification as to any restrictions on our travel on official trips."