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Book publication delayed following Rushdie libel threat

Published 06/08/2008

The publication of a book has been delayed by a week after author Salman Rushdie threatened libel action.

According to the 61-year-old novelist and essayist, the book On Her Majesty's Service - which was co-written by former bodyguard Ron Evans - portrays him as "mean and arrogant".

He also alleges that it makes him look cheap and depicts his police guards as drinking on duty.

Mr Evans was one of the team responsible for guarding Rushdie while he was under a death threat backed by Iran over a novel he published in 1998.

Originally due to be released earlier this week, the book's launch has been put back to August 11th.

Meanwhile, Rushdie's legal team have written to the publishers to demand its withdrawal.

In an interview with the Guardian, Rushdie said: "I am not trying to prevent him from publishing his ... book but if they publish it as it is there will be consequences and there will be a libel action."

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