Murdoch expands internal inquiry of UK papers

WASHINGTON / LONDON - Lawyers for Rupert Murdoch's News International are conducting a broad inquiry into reporting practices at all of the company's UK newspapers, according to sources who have been briefed on the probe.

Attorneys for Linklaters, the large London law firm leading the probe, will be looking for anything that US government investigators might be able to construe as evidence the company violated American law, particularly the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corrupt payments to foreign officials, a source familiar with the investigation said.

In addition to conducting personal interviews with selected journalists, lawyers will also be looking at e-mail and financial records, the source said.