The BBC is battling for its reputation over the suicide of its source for a story on Britain's case for war in Iraq.
The broadcaster is under fire after the admission yesterday that weapons expert Dr David Kelly, who committed suicide, was the main source for a report alleging Mr Tony Blair's government "sexed up" intelligence on Iraq's weapons.
The main claim against the BBC is that journalist Andrew Gilligan's report - sensationally accusing officials of hyping up intelligence Saddam Hussein could deploy weapons in 45 minutes - did not reflect his contact with Dr Kelly.
Some accused the BBC of bending its own standards to dubiously squeeze a sensational story out of its contact with Dr Kelly.
In parliament last Tuesday, Dr Kelly said he could not believe the Gilligan report came from him. "From the conversation I had I don't see how he could make the authoritative statement he was making from the comments I made," he said.
There were other accusations that the BBC actually heightened the pressure on Dr Kelly by refusing earlier to confirm he was the source, thus contributing to media speculation around him and the tough grilling he got at the parliamentary inquiry.
The BBC was also under fire for having described Kelly as "a senior intelligence source" when he was only a bio-warfare expert with no role in British secret services.
"The BBC is profoundly sorry that his [Dr Kelly's] involvement as our source has ended so tragically," it said.
"I think that heads should roll at the BBC," said Mr Robert Jackson, the MP for Kelly's local Oxfordshire area. "I believe the BBC are responsible for his death".