ANDY Coulson today announced he had resigned as Downing Street communications chief.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "very sorry that Mr Coulson had felt compelled to resign due to continuing pressure over the row".
Last week Mr Cameron refused to confirm or deny reports that Mr Coulson had offered to resign to spare the Government further damage.
But he admitted that his communications director was extremely embarrassed about the drip-drip of accusations that he knew famous people's phone voicemails were being accessed while he was editor of The News of the World.
The timing of today's announcement will spark claims that the Government is burying bad news, coming as former prime minister Tony Blair was giving evidence to the Iraq Inquiry and with the spotlight still on shadow chancellor Alan Johnson's resignation.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here