THE LIBERTINES - LIBERTINES TO REFORM, PROMISES FRONTMAN

British group THE LIBERTINES have vowed to reform as soon as jailed bandmember PETE DOHERTY is released later this week (ends10OCT03).

Frontman CARL BARAT, whose flat Doherty burgled, leading to his six month prison sentence which was subsequently reduced on appeal, has forgiven his pal's drug-fuelled misbehaviour which led to his departure from the DON'T LOOK BACK INTO THE SUN stars. Now Barat has pledged to support Doherty and welcome him back into the group as soon as possible.

He says, "Band or no band, I'm going to go and see my friend. I'm going to go and fly the flag. We both want to work with each other, we both love each other. We both built this thing together. I don't want this to crumble.

"I know we'll see eye to eye on a number of levels. We need to harmonise again, get back into things. Once it's done then we can get the band back.

"We've always had this kind of relationship but nothing can change the fact that we are two peas in a pod. Brothers in arms, soldiers on the same journey."