thailand news today: NoW vows 'action' on hack claims

Schoolgirl Milly Dowler's remains were found six months after she went missing in March 2002

News International boss Rebekah Brooks has promised the "strongest possible action" if claims that the phone of Milly Dowler was hacked are proven.

It is alleged a private investigator working for the News of the World (NoW) hacked into the voicemail of the murdered girl while she was missing.

In a statement to staff, Mrs Brooks said the claims were "almost too horrific to believe".

"I have to tell you that I am sickened that these events are alleged to have happened," Mrs Brooks wrote.

"Not just because I was editor of the News of the World at the time, but if the accusations are true, the devastating effect on Milly Dowler's family is unforgivable."

She said that she had written to the Dowler family to assure them that the media group, which publishes the News of the World, would "vigorously pursue the truth and that they will be the first to be informed of the outcome of our investigation".

She added: "I hope that you all realise it is inconceivable that I knew - or worse - sanctioned these appalling allegations."

Speaking during a news conference in Afghanistan, Mr Cameron said the allegations were "quite shocking - that someone could do this, actually knowing that the police were trying to find this person and trying to find out what had happened".

He added: "If they are true, this is a truly dreadful act and a truly dreadful situation."

A lawyer for the Dowler family, Mark Lewis, said in a statement: "The fact that they were prepared to act in such a heinous way that could have jeopardised the police investigation and gave them [the family] false hope is despicable."

Milly went missing in March 2002 near her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Her remains were found in remote woodland at Yateley Heath in Hampshire six months later.

Scotland Yard launched Operation Weeting in January after new claims of phone-hacking at the NoW emerged.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson declined to comment on the ongoing police inquiry into phone-hacking but said he was "appalled" by the latest allegations.

Nick Davies, the special correspondent from the Guardian who wrote the story, told the BBC: "This is one of the very few episodes that happened when she [Rebekah Brooks] was editing the paper, and she's clearly going to have to answer some questions about what she knew about what was going on."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said British journalism had suffered "one its lowest days", and that the police inquiry had to "get to the bottom of who was responsible for this and who was complicit in it".

He added that Mrs Brooks should "examine her conscience" and consider her position, although he said the issue of phone-hacking at the News of the World went "beyond one individual".

In her statement, Mrs Brooks said she was aware of speculation about her position but that she was "determined to lead the company to ensure we do the right thing and resolve these serious issues".

"We will face up to the mistakes and wrongdoing of the past and we will do our utmost to see that justice is done and those culpable will be punished," she wrote.