News International journalists repeatedly tried to hack into the phone of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Guardian and Independent newspapers reported on their websites Monday.

The Independent said Brown was due to make a statement on the matter imminently. The Guardian said reporters repeatedly targeted Brown, attempting to access his voicemail and obtaining information from his bank account, his legal file as well as his family's medical records. His office could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Guardian said it had uncovered evidence that Brown was targeted during a period of more than 10 years, both as Finance Minister and as prime minister.

The paper also reported a building society had unearthed evidence suggesting that a blagger acting for the Sunday Times on six occasions posed as Brown and gained details from his account.

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