programme after it carried a story that he was set to quit his job early.

Attorney General Elliott Mottley dismissed the story, carried on VSB's radio and TV news, as "a tissue of lies and has absolutely no foundation''.

The story claimed "sources'' had said that Mr. Mottley was set to return to his native Barbados and said his wife Amor was disatisfied with the couple's Paget home.

Now Mr. Mottley has fired off a fax to the VSB newsroom, asking that it be read out on air in its entirety.

A note attached said: "I expect this to be read -- the whole thing.'' The statement from Mr. Mottley, whose contract ends in January next year, read: "The Attorney General....has phoned our newsroom to say that the story that he has asked to break his contract is a tissue of lies and has absolutely no foundation.

"He also stated that the allegation that his wife, Mrs. Amor Mottley, is disatisfied with the house, The Laurels, is untrue.'' Mr. Mottley's suggested statement continued: "VSB is satisfied that the allegations contained in the story have no factual basis and unreservedly withdraws the whole story and accepts that it is completely untrue and without any foundation.

"VSB offers its unreserved apology to the Attorney General and Mrs.

Mottley.'' But last night VSB news director Chris Lodge stopped short of saying the station would read out Mr. Mottley's suggested statement.

He said, however, that station chiefs would "take into consideration'' Mr.

Mottley's fax and that VSB would be "revising our earlier story''.

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