Daily Mail columnist Peter Oborne says he has consulted a libel lawyer in a public spat with Oliver Kamm of The Times.
Kamm takes issue with Oborne’s decision to co-author a book with David Morrison three years ago and tweeted about the matter this week.
Morrison has previously disputed the scale of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in which thousands of Bosnian Muslims were killed.
Kamm this week tweeted a link to a piece he wrote for The Times three years ago in which he said: “Does he [Oborne] think the demonstrated fact of the worst atrocity in Europe since 1945 is an obscure subject on which reasonable people differ?”
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Oborne has responded on Twitter saying: “My friend David Morrison is a good and decent man. He is not a ‘genocide denier’ and it is outrageous of Oliver Kamm to claim that he is.
“What happened at Srebrenica was terrible and should never be forgotten or taken lightly. If Mr Morrison was a ‘Srebrenica denier’ as you have repeatedly stated, no decent person should have anything to do with him.
“Since he didn’t, I strongly urge you to desist.
“You should know that I took your original comments so seriously that I went to a famous libel QC. He read your blog and David’s articles…and told me that your claims were unjustified and highly defamatory. Please stop making these false accusations about a decent man.
“And I strongly urge you to apologise to Mr Morrison for making a series of foul and baseless allegations against him. That is all. Goodbye.”
Kamm responded (also on Twitter) saying: “Do you have any idea how absurd you sound?I cordially suggest you cease bleating about your friend’s decency and make him face historical facts.”
He also said: “I’ve considered your suggestion fully and reject it.” And he added: “I’m highly unimpressed with your silly threats.”
He concluded by Tweeting a link to the website of lawyer Duncan Lamont saying: “My reps are ready”.
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