Post date: Jul 18, 2011 2:58:8 PM
British Prime Minister David Cameron says there may be an emergency parliament session to discuss phone-hacking scandal. (No reporter narration)
SOUTH AFRICA-CAMERON - British Prime Minister David Cameron answered questions on the UK's growing phone-hacking scandal during a trip to South Africa on Monday.
Cameron said Britain's parliament may sit for an emergency session on Wednesday to discuss the hacking scandal.
"It may well be right to have parliament meet on Wednesday so I can make a further statement, update the House on the final parts of this judicial inquiry and answer any questions that arise today or tomorrow," Cameron told a news conference in Pretoria during a trade mission to Africa.
Cameron cut to two days from four a trade mission to Africa as pressure mounts on the Conservative leader to tackle a scandal that has shaken Britons' faith in police, press and political leaders.
The prime minister also addressed his former press secretary, Andy Coulson's, role in government.
Coulson, who resigned as editor of the News of the World in 2007 following the jailing of a reporter for phone hacking, later served as Cameron's press secretary, but resigned after police reopened the phone-hacking inquiry earlier this year.
The scandal has raised concerns not only about unethical media practices but about the influence Rupert Murdoch has wielded over British political leaders and allegations of cosy relationships between some of his journalists and police.