An embarrassed Fox News has had to apologize over a story it posted on its website containing false quotes attributed to Senator John Kerry.

Kerry was falsely quoted as saying he is a "metrosexual" and he has "manicures." The story was later pulled off the website.

The story contained the following phoney quotes from US Democratic presidential candidate Kerry about his performance on his televised debate with President George Bush:

"Didn't my nails and cuticles look great? What a good debate!"

"It's about the Supreme Court. Women should like me! I do manicures."

"I'm metrosexual, he's a cowboy."

The story was filed by Carl Cameron, an experienced Fox reporter covering the Kerry campaign. According to Fox, the spoof story was written in jest and was never meant to be posted on their website.

After withdrawing the item, Fox issued a statement on their website apologizing for the error. They said it occurred because of fatigue and bad judgment, and not through any malice.

Cameron, a political reporter for Fox News since 1996, was reprimanded for what a Fox spokesman described as his "stupid mistake."

- October 2, 2004