The BBC has issued an unconditional apology and its Director General Greg Dyke has resigned in the wake of the Hutton Report on the death of Dr David Kelly.
Mark Byford has been appointed Acting Director General.
The resignation follows yesterday's announcement by the BBC Chairman, Gavyn Davies, that he was stepping down.
In a separate development, the BBC's Acting Chairman Richard Ryder said he had no hesitation in apologising unreservedly for the BBC's errors and to the individuals whose reputations were affected by them.
Blair welcomes BBC apology
Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the apology and said the Government could now draw a line under the whole episode. His former communications director Alastair Campbell, also said he now accepted the affair was closed.
The Board of Governors of the BBC met today to discuss the judicial report, which was strongly critical of the organisation's management and editorial practices.
The Hutton Report criticised BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan and his superiors over a radio report which alleged that an intelligence dossier on Iraq's weapons programme had been 'sexed up'.
The report exonerated the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and senior officials, including former Communications Director, Alastair Campbell.
In a BBC television interview last night, Mr Campbell said the organisation had visited difficulties on itself.
