BBC Apologizes for Ivory Coast Toxic Waste Claims

The BBC has apologized to a commodities-trading firm, Trafigura, for saying the company caused deaths and injuries in Ivory Coast through the dumping of toxic waste.

In a statement read in a London court Thursday, the British broadcaster said it withdraws the allegation that the waste caused deaths, miscarriages or other serious or long-term injuries.

The BBC also apologized to Trafigura for claiming otherwise on its program Newsnight.

Trafigura says the BBC has agreed to pay the company $40,000 in damages, which Trafigura says will be donated to charity.

In 2006, a company hired by Trafigura dumped toxic waste in the Ivorian city of Abidjan. Tens of thousands of residents said the waste made them sick, and Ivorian officials say 15 people died.

However, Trafigura has consistently denied any wrongdoing. It says independent experts found no link between the waste and the deaths and injuries.

The BBC acknowledged the experts' conclusion in a separate statement Thursday.

Trafigura settled a class-action lawsuit from more than 30,000 Ivorians earlier this year, agreeing to pay about $1,550 per person. The settlement stated that at worst, the waste could have caused low-level flu-like symptoms.

The Dutch company previously agreed to a $198 million settlement with the Ivorian government in 2007. That agreement exempted it from any legal action in the West African country.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.