The BBC's governors have summoned its director-general to a meeting tomorrow to discuss the row with Downing Street over its reporting of a dossier used to justify invading Iraq, a BBC spokeswoman said today.
The British Broadcasting Corporation's government-nominated governors will examine an allegation by one of its journalists that Mr Alastair Campbell, Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair's media chief, "sexed up" intelligence to strengthen the case for war.
The claim has led to one of the most serious and public disputes between any government and the BBC, with Mr Blair's office demanding the public broadcaster retract the allegation and apologise.
BBC governors have now called on Director-General Mr Greg Dyke, who is responsible for the broadcaster's day-to-day running, to explain the journalists' stance on the story.
"It is not unusual for the governors to hold ad hoc meetings when issues of principle and integrity are questioned," the BBC spokeswoman said.
The governors, appointed by the queen on the government's recommendation, are the corporation's internal watchdogs responsible for safeguarding its independence.
However the appointment of economist Mr Gavyn Davies as chairman of the governors in 2001 led to accusations of cronyism from opposition lawmakers as Mr Davies was a known Blair supporter.
The current dispute began after the BBC, citing an anonymous intelligence source, accused Campbell of inserting into the dossier published last September a claim that Iraq could deploy weapons in 45 minutes.
He has furiously denied the allegations and gone on the offensive accusing the BBC of poor journalistic standards.