Mosley launches lawsuit against newspaper

Mosley has been at the centre of controversy all week following an article published in the paper last week exposing details of his private life.

And amid the backdrop of growing calls for Mosley to resign over the matter, it was revealed on Friday night that legal action has now begun.

A spokesman for Mosley told autosport.com: "Lawyers representing Mr. Mosley have today served proceedings against the News of the World, claiming unlimited damages."

It is understood that Mosley is pursuing what he believes to be an invasion of privacy in the report.

Mosley has called an extraordinary meeting of the FIA's general assembly to discuss the matter, with the hope of providing what he hopes will be 'total clarity' about the situation to members of the sport's governing body.

The 67-year-old wrote a letter to members of the FIA last week apologising for any embarrasment caused by the revelations about his private life.

He made it clear that he intended to continue in his role as president of the organisation and pursue legal action against the newspaper in question.

Mosley wrote: "It is against the law in most countries to publish details of a person's private life without good reason. The publications by The News of the World are a wholly unwarranted invasion of my privacy and I intend to issue legal proceedings against the Newspaper in the UK and other jurisdictions."