<font color="blue>Britain Moves to Reshape the BBC

Wed Mar 2, 2005 01:22 PM ET

By Adam Pasick

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's BBC will be forced to scrap a 77-year tradition of self-regulation under a new government proposal prompted by criticism of its journalism in the run-up to the Iraq war.

British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell on Wednesday issued the draft proposal to abolish the BBC board of governors and replace it with an independent trust that will oversee the world's biggest public broadcaster and a separate executive board focused on delivering BBC services.

The board was singled out for criticism in an official report delivered by British judge Lord Hutton which centered on one reporter's allegation that the government had "sexed up" evidence of Iraqi weapons programs to justify its participation in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The report's release prompted BBC Director-General Greg Dyke and Chairman Gavyn Davies to resign.