Inquiry into allegations against writer

Johann Hari, a columnist for The Independent, has been suspended for two months while an inquiry is conducted into claims that he embellished his articles with quotes that were made on separate occasions and that he attacked his critics online while using an alias.

Andreas Whittam Smith, the founding editor of The Independent and a member of the board of Independent Print Limited, the newspaper's parent company, will conduct the inquiry. Chris Blackhurst, editor of The Independent, said: "Johann Hari has been suspended for two months pending the outcome of an inquiry into the claims made against him."

The columnist has been accused of inventing an online commentator called "David R" or "David Rose" who defended his work and made disparaging references to those who had criticised him.