British speaker says sorry in expenses row

Britain's House of Commons Speaker said Monday he was "profoundly sorry" for the expenses row which has rocked parliament, but rebuffed a bid to voice no confidence in his authority.

Michael Martin repeatedly refused to discuss what he would do about a proposed no-confidence motion, signed by 15 lawmakers after more than a week of embarrassing revelations about MPs' expenses claims.

"We must all accept blame and to that extent... I am profoundly sorry," he said in statement to the lower house of parliament, calling for a meeting within 48 hours with the prime minister and all party leaders on the crisis.

A series of MPs followed up his statement by pressing him on the no-confidence motion, which they said they would formally present on Tuesday. But Martin said he could not discuss it for procedural reasons.