LONDON (AP):

Britain's most senior policeman ordered an inquiry yesterday into claims that journalists from a tabloid, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, illegally hacked into the mobile phones of hundreds of celebrities and politicians.

Lawmakers also demanded answers after The Guardian reported that the News of the World, the country's most popular Sunday paper paid private investigators to obtain voicemail messages, private phone numbers, bank statements and other information about figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, George Michael and some of the country's most senior politicians.

Metropolitan Police Commis-sioner Paul Stephenson said he had appointed a senior Scotland Yard officer, Assistant Commissioner John Yates, to look into the allegations against the News of the World, which is owned by News International Ltd., a subsidiary of Murdoch's News Corp.

"We will investigate thoroughly and follow the case to where it leads us," Stephenson told Sky News.

'Serious allegations'

Home Office Minister David Hanson said police would make a statement yesterday on the "serious allegations." Citing anonymous senior police sources, The Guardian reported that journalists at the tabloid used private investigators to hack into private voicemail messages, using the information to "gain unlawful access to private data, including tax records, social-security files, bank statements and itemised phone bills."

It said other targets included London Mayor Boris Johnson, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and politicians from Britain's three main parties.