COUNTY race boss Mohammed Aslam is being called upon to withdraw "outrageous and false" claims that the Worcester Evening News is "racist" and took part in a "Paki-bashing spree".

The chief executive of the Worcester Racial Equality Council made the accusations last night over Evening News reports, published in 2004, over the fact that the Big Lottery Fund was looking into why he had pocketed £10,063 of a project support grant.

The newspaper later reported that, following an internal investigation, the Big Lottery Fund had found no wrong-doing and that the terms of the funding had been followed. This was fully reported.

The Evening News also revealed that Dr Aslam was suspended, then cleared, last year while claims he inflated case-work figures were investigated.

Last night's bi-annual meeting of the WREC was the first public meeting the charity has held since Dr Aslam was reinstated.

The editor of the Evening News, Stewart Gilbert, called on Dr Aslam to withdraw his comments or face damaging his organisation's work. "The Evening News is not racist, has never been racist and never will be," he said.

In his attack on the paper, Dr Aslam told last night's meeting that he needed to share "what it is like to be a victim of racism".

"What's happened over the last six months was catapulted by the BNP, ignited by the Evening News and pursued by an individual who claimed to be acting on behalf of a trade union," he said.

"We, as a race equality council, had to be above all that. There is no point rolling our sleeves up and having a wrestling match. There are too many of them, hiding in the bushes, in bus shelters, in our back yards at night."

After the meeting he told the Evening News "you went on a Paki-bashing spree and are still doing this".

"You went on this crusade of misleading your readers by suggesting a misappropriation of finances and when it was proved there was no such thing you never apologised or printed a retraction," he said.

In response, Mr Gilbert added: "These outrageous and false claims are highly damaging to our reputation and should be withdrawn immediately.

"We have never co-operated in any way with the British National Party and I'm horrified that he would wrongly label a community newspaper as racist.

"Coming from a person in as important position as his, these false allegations will gravely undermine the work of the WREC - a highly reputable organisation the work of which the Evening News has always, and will always, support wholeheartedly."

How the story was reported -

July 27, 2004 "Devastated by cut to anti-racial cash" - a report of the WREC's annual meeting focuses on how a cut to funding might force it the organisation to expand into a regional body.

July 28 "Race chief denies funds claim"- Dr Aslam rebuffs claims from the BNP that he pocketed £17,179 project fees, up from £2,563 in 2003, but admits more financial transparency needed.

August 2 "Race council boss probed" - Big Lottery Fund investigates why Dr Aslam received £10,063 of its money. He denies any wrongdoing and other grant funders support him.

August 3 "Probe into race chief's payments ruled out" - Detectives say they are not investigating a complaint of financial mismanagement as no criminal offences took place.

August 6 "Racial chief suspended over 'serious' claims" - The WREC suspends Dr Aslam, but refuses to say why.

September 23 "Silence over Aslam report" - A report by an unnamed independent investigator into the "serious" allegations is completed. The findings or complaints are not made public.

October 1 "Aslam is cleared" - The WREC clears Dr Aslam of inflating casework figures following a report by Lutfer Ali.

October 15 "Cleared race boss fails to turn up to work" - Dr Aslam continues to receive a full wage despite not returning to work two weeks ago as expected. The Big Lottery Fund concludes Dr Aslam receiving £10,063 of its money "entirely complied with terms and conditions". He declines to comment.

January 17, 2005 "Equality manager sacked for bullying" - Following an investigation by the WREC, Rosemin Najmudin is sacked for harassing fellow staff members. She launches an appeal.

January 20, 2005 "I exposed staff laziness, claims doc sacked by equality council" - Rosemin Najmudin alleges she was removed by staff because she was highlighting a supposed poor work rate. WREC chairman Dan Wicksteed says there was no conspiracy.