MI6 chief denies arranging Diana's death

LONDON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service told a coroner's jury in London that the agency had nothing to do with Princess Diana's death.

Sir Richard Dearlove, who worked for the agency also known as MI6 from 1966 to 2004, said the service carried out no assassinations that he knew of, The Sun reported Wednesday. He called the claims by Mohammed al-Fayed, owner of Harrod's Department Store, "a very personal allegation" since he was the MI6 director when Diana and Dodi Fayed died in a 1997 car crash in Paris.

Fayed contends that the crash that killed the couple and their driver was arranged by MI6 because Prince Philip and Prince Charles wanted to prevent their marriage.

The inquest, years after a French investigation blamed the driver, Henri Paul, for the accident, aims to air all the available evidence to put conspiracy theories to rest.

Lord Justice Scott Baker, the coroner, said Wednesday that he has allowed evidence that would normally have been excluded "to confirm or allay public suspicion," the BBC said.