Rumours and allegations surrounding the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her lover Dodi Fayed are to be investigated by Britain's top policeman, the couple's inquests heard yesterday.

As the hearings were finally opened and adjourned more than six years after they died, Dodi's outspoken father, Mohamed Al Fayed, maintained the pair were victims of a "horrendous murder".

When the Harrods boss was asked outside court about the publication yesterday of a controversial letter written by Diana, which showed she feared the Prince of Wales was plotting to kill her, Mr al Fayed said he hoped that the truth would come out.

The opening of Diana's inquest, which lasted only 30 minutes, was held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, central London, by royal coroner Michael Burgess.

It was the first official public hearing ever held in Britain into the 1997 crash.

Along with Mr al Fayed and his barrister Michael Mansfield, among those present in the huge Fleming Room were Diana's sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and the princess's former Press secretary, Patrick Jephson.

Mr Burgess announced that the inquests were not expected to start up again until early 2005.

He has yet to receive the 6,000-page document produced by the French investigation into the crash.

Dodi's inquest began later at Wray Park, Reigate, with Mr Burgess again presiding over the proceedings.

In a statement read at both hearings, he revealed that he had asked Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens to probe speculation that the deaths were not the result of a "straightforward, road traffic accident".

"I am aware that there is speculation that these deaths were not the result of a sad, but relatively straightforward, road traffic accident in Paris," he said.

"I have asked the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to make inquiries.

"The results of these inquiries will help me to decide whether such matters will fall within the scope of the investigation carried out at the inquests."

Mr Burgess said police in England would be asked to interview possible witnesses to find out whether their evidence was relevant to the inquests.

Scotland Yard confirmed that Sir John Stevens had appointed Commander David Armond to lead the inquiry.

Mr Burgess spoke of his regret at the "untold pain" that some would face in having to relive the deaths of loved ones.

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