Britain Charges 8 in Phone Hacking Scandal

Andy Coulson, Former spokesman for Britian's Prime Minister David Cameron, leaves after giving evidence before the Leveson Inquiry into the ethics and practices of the media at the High Court in central London May 10, 2012.

British prosecutors have charged a former aide to Prime Minister David Cameron and a former editor of the News of the World tabloid, in connection with a phone hacking scandal that forced the newspaper to shut down.

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged former Cameron spokesman Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, who was a senior editor at the paper. Also charged were five other journalists and a private investigator.

Authorities say the eight played a role in hacking into voicemail accounts of more than 600 people, including a murdered schoolgirl, politicians and celebrities.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch closed the 168-year-old News of the World tabloid last year, after the allegations became public.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.