BBC apologises for "poorly-phrased" question in interview with Darcus Howe

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has apologised for a live interview on in its coverage of the England riots in which the interviewer told Trinidad-born activist Darcus Howe he has taken part in riots.

Howe is a well-recognised journalist and black activist who has lived in England for the past 50 years.

BBC broadcaster Fiona Armstrong conducted an interview with Howe on Tuesday about the unrest on the streets of London.

Howe suggested that the state of the economy played a major part in creating the London riots and added that he was not shocked by what had happened. 

Armstrong responded that it was not an excuse to go out and cause the damage. Then she made this statement: "You are not a stranger to riots yourself, I understand, are you? You have taken part in them yourself."

Howe was not amused at that. He responded, "I have never taken part in a single riot. I have been on demonstrations that ended up in a conflict, have some respect for an old West Indian negro and stop accusing me of being a rioter," he said. 

"You want me to get abusive, you just sound idiotic, have some respect, I have grandchildren," he said.

The public response to the encounter between the two raised questions about bias and racism on the part of the BBC. Contributors to social networking sites demanded an an apology from the broadcaster.

On Wednesday they got it. The BBC apologised for any offence caused following complaints from the viewers, saying that Armstrong had not intended to show Howe any disrespect and the questions were intended to gauge his reaction to the events.

Editors acknowledged that Armstrong had asked a "poorly-phrased question".

"We'd like to apologise for any offence that this interview has caused," the BBC wrote on its website.

Watch a recording of the live BBC interview