REFILE-News Corp says hacking scandal lawyers were spied on

Mon Nov 7, 2011 3:57pm EST

* Surveillance on lawyers representing hacking victims

* Revelation comes ahead of James Murdoch's parliament appearance

* British MP says Murdochs must take blame

By Michael Holden

LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The British newspaper arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp said on Monday its staff had ordered surveillance to be carried out on two lawyers representing victims suing the media group over the phone-hacking scandal which has engulfed the company.

News International, the UK newspaper arm of News Corp , admitted that the action, the latest in a string of embarrassing and damaging revelations about illegal eavesdropping on phone messages, was "inappropriate".

It also adds to growing pressure on Murdoch's son James, the chairman of News International who is due to face British lawmakers for a second time on Thursday as part of a probe to find out how much he knew about the hacking scandal.
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