LONDON (AP) - Britain’s News of The World tabloid has apologized for hacking into the phones of several public figures and offered to pay them compensation.
It was a dramatic admission of liability Friday from the newspaper, which has long insisted that the phone hacking was limited to a single rogue reporter and a private investigator.
The paper said the hacking took place over three years ending in 2006, adding that it had decided to approach several litigants to settle their claims.
The tabloid did not immediately return a call Friday seeking clarification on how many claims it hoped to settle.
Several News of The World reporters have faced or are facing legal action over their alleged hacking offenses and the paper’s chief reporter was arrested earlier this week.
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