The Asian Leader newspaper has been forced to publish a full apology to a former MP for making allegations that it admits where "wholly untrue and without foundation".

Rochdale's Lorna Fritzsimons received an apology for an article published in last year that claimed she had lied to her former constituents about her relationship with the state of Israel. It published her photograph on November 6th alongside the Star of David with a headline asking: 'Is she a star liar?'.

The newspaper's apology last week stated: "This article alleged that Ms Fitzsimons had lied to her former constituents by claiming that she had no links with Israel and was anti-Israeli in order to be voted Labour MP for Rochdale. The article also alleged that Ms Fitzsimons is a Jewish liar. These allegations are wholly untrue and without foundation. Ms Fitzsimons is neither Jewish nor a liar."

The west Yorkshire based Asian Leader also accepted that she "has never lied about her support for Israel, nor hidden her views from her constituents". It added: "We also accept that her support for Israel did not and does not negate the good work she has done with the Muslim community."

The former MP sued publishers of the paper, Johnston Press, the journalist responsible for the article: Shmoun Maqsood, and the newspaper's editor Azeez Anasudhin. They have been forced to pay Ms Fitzsimons' legal costs but she waived any damages payout.

Ms Fritzsimons' solicitor, Niri Shanmuganathan, told the High Court in London: "The article alleged that Ms Fitzsimons had lied to her former constituents by falsely claiming she had no links whatsoever with Israel in order to be voted their Labour MP."

She added: "The article also claimed that she stated she was 'anti-Israeli'. The article is highly defamatory, offensive, divisive and, above all, wholly untrue."

Asian Leader was launched in the Greater Manchester and Lancashire area as a monthly free-sheet in 2001. Within six months the frequency was increased to a fortnightly run. Johnston Press bought the newspaper in August 2005.

It also publishes two glossy magazines annually - a wedding and culture publication titled Asian Life and a magazine on the festival of Eid. Both are also distributed freely.