MANAMA, April 5, 2008 (AFP) - Max Mosley insisted Saturday that he has done nothing wrong and confirmed he has taken action to sue the newspaper that made lurid revelations about his private life last week.

Briton Mosley, 67, the president of the International Motoring Federation (FIA) and son of former British fascist party leader Oswald Mosley, made clear he had no intention of resigning his post despite widespread criticism of his behaviour and calls for him to leave.

In a letter addressed to Peter Meyer, the head of Germany´s ADAC automobile club, Mosley said he was the victim of "a disgusting conspiracy" and claimed his actions had been "harmless and completely legal."

The letter was shown to reporters at the Bahrain Grand Prix as part of Mosley´s response to critics of his part in the so-called ´Nazi-style orgy´ with five prostitutes in London.

Mosley´s letter was sent to all the members of the FIA, its World Motor Sport Council and Senate.

In the letter, Mosley wrote: "Had I been caught driving excessively fast on a public road or over the alcohol limit (even in, say, Sweden where it is very low) I should have resigned the same day.

"As it is, a scandal paper obtained by illegal means pictures of something I did in private which, although unacceptable to some people, was harmless and completely legal.

"Many people do things in their bedrooms or have personal habits which others find repugnant. But as long as they keep them private, nobody objects."

Mosley has initiated proceedings against the News of the World for unlimited damages for publishing the story last Sunday of his involvement in the sado-masochistic orgy.

Mosley has denied the Nazi-style element of the reports.

"The offence seems to be not what I did but the fact that it became public," wrote Mosley. "But I played no role in this, indeed I did my utmost to ensure it remained private. I was the victim of a disgusting conspiracy.

"It goes without saying that the so-called Nazi element is pure fabrication. This will become crystal clear when the matter comes to trial. The newspaper invented this in order to spice up their story and introduce my family background."

But Mosley faces a tough struggle to hang on to his job as he prepares to meet the membership of the FIA at an emergency meeting convened to take place in Paris as soon as possible.

Many leading members and several major car makers have joined a host of individuals in condemning his behaviour as inappropriate for the head of an international organisation.