BBC apologises to UK Muslim Council over TV debate

LONDON (Reuters) - The BBC said on Saturday it had apologised to the Muslim Council of Britain after airing an allegation by a former newspaper editor that the Council approved of the killing of British troops.

Former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore made the comment on the television current affairs debate show, Question Time.

He said the Council had been reluctant to condemn the killing and kidnapping of British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that the organisation thought such activities were "a good thing".

He was speaking days after a homecoming parade for British soldiers in Luton, north of London, was disrupted by an anti-war demonstration featuring vocal Islamic protests.

The Council strongly criticised Moore's remarks and demanded an apology.

"These kinds of statements are very damaging, and we received many complaints from our Muslim supporters," the group's secretary general Muhammad Abdul Bari told the Daily Mail. "This is accusing us of encouraging terrorism abroad."

Question Time is normally recorded an hour before broadcast so legal advisers can check the content for possible libel.

In a statement, the BBC said: "Question Time always had a lively and wide-ranging debate. On occasion, this results in unfairness to individuals who aren't there to put their view and this is one of those occasions."

The Daily Mail reported that the BBC has offered to pay 30,000 pounds ($48,000) but the broadcaster said no final compensation settlement had yet been reached.