LONDON (Reuters) - A British official who advised ministers within an hour of last month's attacks on the United States to use the tragedy as cover for any bad news apologized Tuesday for causing offence.
Jo Moore, a special adviser for Transport Secretary Stephen Byers, sent an e-mail containing the advice soon after the hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center.
"It's now a very good day to get out anything we want to bury,'' said the e-mail, which was leaked to British newspapers.
Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites)'s official spokesman released a statement from Moore, a long-time colleague of Byers, apologizing for her error of judgment.
Byers had reprimanded the aide but she would stay in her post, the spokesman said.
"I would like to sincerely apologize for the offence I caused,'' Moore's statement said. "I was wrong to send the e-mail. It was clearly an error of judgment that I regret.''