News Corporation's Rupert and James Murdoch have been summonsed to appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on Tuesday.
But as US citizens, Rupert Murdoch, who has declined a request to attend the Commons media committee, and his son James, who has offered to go on another day, cannot be forced to appear. News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has agreed to attend.
Meanwhile, a 60-year-old man has been arrested over phone hacking.
The BBC understands the man is Neil Wallis, the former executive editor of the News of the World. Mr Wallis was arrested by officers from Operating Weeting on Thursday morning and has been taken for questioning at a police station in west London on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.
Neil Wallis, a former member of the Editors' Code of Practice Committee, is the ninth person to be arrested since the Metropolitan Police launched a fresh investigation in January.
On Tuesday, the Commons culture, media and sport committee invited Mrs Brooks and the Murdochs to give evidence at the House of Commons about the phone-hacking scandal.
In a statement, the MPs said that serious questions had arisen about the evidence Mrs Brooks and Andy Coulson, both of them former News of the World editors, gave at a previous hearing in 2003.
MPs' DISCIPLINARY POWERS
- MPs used to have the power to fine people held to be in contempt of the Commons
- That would include refusing to appear before a select committee
- They still have the power to imprison but it has not been used in modern times
- They can send a Speaker's warrant, which means the police and other authorities can be called in
- The last time a warrant was served was in 1992 to the Maxwell brothers
- They can also summon a non-MP to the bar of the house - last used in 1957
- MPs tried to clear up confusion about their powers in 1967 but no change resulted
In his letter to committee chairman John Whittingdale, Rupert Murdoch said that although he was not available on Tuesday, he was "fully prepared" to give evidence to the judge-led inquiry announced by David Cameron on Wednesday.
James Murdoch offered to appear on an alternative date, the earliest of which was 10 August.Ms Brooks said she "welcomed the opportunity" to give evidence.
But, in a statement, the MPs said: "The committee has made clear its view that all three should appear to account for the behaviour of News International and for previous statements made to the committee in Parliament, now acknowledged to be false.
"Accordingly, the committee has this morning decided to summon Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch to appear before the Select Committee in Parliament at 2.30pm on Tuesday July 19 2011."
Mr Whittingdale said the Deputy Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons would now deliver the summons to the Murdochs in person.
Neil Wallis, the former executive editor of the News of the World, was arrested at 0630 BST on Thursday Our correspondent said if decline to attend the hearing, the matter would then go to the House which could then decide the Murdochs are in contempt of Parliament.
The committee is not clear what happens after that because it has not happened for many years and is taking advice from the Speaker's Council, he added.
The Leader of the House Sir George Young said there were a range of sanctions available if individuals failed to respond to summons to the appear before a select committee including fines and imprisonment, although he said the latter had not been used for some time.
In other developments:
- Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has urged Rebekah Brooks and Rupert and James Murdoch to do the "decent thing" and appear before the committee of MPs. He has also called for "fundamental reform" of the British media, based on the principles of "freedom, accountability, plurality", and called for independent regulation of the press
Scope of hacking inquiry
- Culture, practices and ethics of the press
- Their relationship with the police
- Failure of current regulation
- Contacts made and discussions between national newspapers and politicians
- Why previous warnings about press misconduct were not heeded
- Issue of cross-media ownership
On Wednesday Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, whose UK arm - News International - owns the Sun, the Times, the Sunday Times and the now closed News of the World, dropped a bid to take complete control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt had referred News Corporation's bid to acquire the 61% of shares it does not already own in BSkyB to the Competition Commission.Despite the company's announcement, MPs from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and smaller parties backed a Labour motion condemning the plans without the need for a vote.
The News of the World was shut down last week amid the mounting scandal over the alleged hacking of phones belonging to crime victims, politicians and celebrities.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke out in the Commons on Wednesday against alleged law-breaking on an "industrial scale" at News International. He also said there had not been private deals with the company when he was in Downing Street.
Meanwhile, Democratic senator Jay Rockefeller said US authorities should consider whether journalists working for News Corp had broken US law.
Mr Rockefeller, who chairs the Senate's commerce committee, expressed concern that phone hacking may have extended to American targets, including victims of 9/11, although he presented no evidence.
More congressmen, including the first major Republican, Peter King, called for a federal investigation into News Corp's actions.
Others included senators Frank Lautenberg, Robert Menendez and Barbara Boxer.
Rupert Murdoch's American assets include the Wall Street Journal and Fox News.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced the terms of an independent inquiry into the hacking affair, which he said would examine the practices of the press.
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