European Human Rights Commission throws out privacy complaint from Earl Spencer

The European Commission on Human Rights in Strasbourg has thrown out a complaint against the British government by the brother of the late Princess Diana, Earl Spencer, and his former wife.

Lord and Lady Spencer had argued that the government should have introduced a privacy law so they could have stopped newspaper reports about their private lives three years ago.

But lawyers for the government said the couple could have protected their privacy in the English courts by bringing an action against the newspapers for breach of confidence.

The Commission only hears cases once the legal remedies in the country in question have been exhausted.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service