The row between the government and the BBC intensified last night as it threatened to become a stand-off between Greg Dyke and the prime minister.

Downing Street yesterday launched a scathing attack on the BBC amid a continuing row over the government's Iraq dossiers.

The prime minister's official spokesman took the unusual step of publicly demanding answers to 11 questions that "are still relevant".

"We are still looking for an apology," added the spokesman.

The corporation's news and current affairs chief, Richard Sambrook, said Campbell's latest attack was an attempt to divert attention from its central charge.

"Alastair Campbell can try and pretend we said all sorts of things we didn't say. We are absolutely clear about what we said," he said.

BBC director general Dyke said the corporation would stand firm despite "unprecedented pressure" from Number 10.

Amid suggestions that Blair could take legal action against the BBC, the corporation was snubbed during the press conference hosted by the prime minister and President Putin yesterday.

Writing in today's Independent, Mo Mowlam says that Campbell has an extraordinary ability to make an obvious truth sound wrong.