British supermarket says sorry in Potter books row

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — A British supermarket chain apologised Tuesday to the publishers of the new Harry Potter book amid a row which had threatened to keep the hotly-awaited work off its shelves.

ASDA had accused publishers Bloomsbury of "attempting to hold children to ransom" by increasing the recommended sale price of the seventh and final Potter book -- due out on Saturday -- to 17.99 pounds (26.71 euros, 36.82 dollars).

The row, which Bloomsbury said centred on unpaid bills and had nothing to do with the pricing policy, saw Bloomsbury cancel delivery of ASDA's 500,000 copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

But now ASDA has apologised "unreservedly" to Bloomsbury for its comments and said it will now receive copies of the book, which it pledged to...