SALMAN RUSHDIE - RUSHDIE GRATIFIED AFTER LIBEL WIN

Sir Salman Rushdie has won his libel claim in the high court against allegations made in a book by a former police bodyguard.

The Booker prize-winning author said the court had shown claims about his character in the as-yet unpublished On Her Majesty's Service were "complete lies".

The book's author, former policeman Ron Evans, was among those who protected Sir Salman amid deaths threats following the publication of The Satanic Verses in 1989.

Speaking outside court, Sir Salman said he was "gratified" by the judge's recognition of 11 "serious falsehoods" contained in two chapters of the book, the publication of which was delayed after its serialisation in the Mail on Sunday in August.

"That's the end of the matter as far as I am concerned," Sir Salman said on Tuesday.

"I never wanted a financial reward, I just wanted to have it established that the truth is the truth and lies are lies."

The 61-year-old author, who was knighted last year, called on other libel claimants to follow his lead and seek nothing but the truth.

"Instead of just going for megabucks you just go to the court for the important thing; to discover the truth," he added.