LONDON: Sir ELTON JOHN is suing The Times newspaper for libel over articles he says falsely linked him to immoral tax avoidance, according to a report on BBC News website.

In two articles titled "The secrets of tax avoiders", the newspaper said PATRICK MCKENNA of Ingenious Media was Sir Elton's former accountant.

Papers filed at the High Court said the article implied Sir Elton had been advised to engage in tax avoidance.

The Times has published a correction, acknowledging that McKenna had never been the star's accountant.

However, Sir Elton's lawyers described the correction, published on June 22, as "wholly inadequate".

They said the four-line apology did not have equal prominence to the original articles, which appeared on pages one and six.

They said it "deliberately ignored the defamatory impact" of the original article.

WILLIAM MCCORMICK QC said in Sir Elton's writ that the pop star was concerned about the effect of the articles on his charity work.

"The allegations are particularly damaging to the claimant's reputation in the sphere of charity fund-raising," he added.

Sir Elton's lawyers said the articles caused their client "severe damage to his reputation and personal distress and embarrassment" and they would be seeking damages for "the sense of insult and injury".

In the original articles, published on June 21, The Times discussed the use of film finance partnerships arranged by Ingenious Media, where McKenna is chief executive.

But last month, the newspaper issued a clarification: "We have been asked to make clear that the film finance partnerships arranged by Ingenious Media, whose chief executive officer is Patrick McKenna, do not offer schemes of this type and they have not been involved in moving money offshore to avoid tax.

"It was not our intention to make such an allegation and we are happy to make the position clear."