AID worker Sally Becker has quit the charity she set up to help war-wounded children from Bosnia.

Sally, the leader of Hove-based Operation Angel, claims Government lies and poor publicity in the British press about her recent work have brought the charity into disrepute.

As a result, she is stepping down to prevent the charity, which delivers convoys of aid to Bosnia, being associated with her.

Angel of Mostar Sally, shot in the leg by masked gunmen 12 days ago in Albania, has vowed to continue alone.

She has no plans to return to the UK.

Her spokesman Mike Mendoza said: "Sally is resigning for the sake of Operation Angel.

"She does not want it to be seen in a negative light.

"The charity will continue. Its workers have no plans to disband but I think they are hoping she will change her mind.

"She will carry on as an individual. She will do her own thing in her own way and will continue to help people on her own."

Sally, 38, still in the Albanian capital Tirana, says she has failed in her mission to bring 90 Kosovan refugees to the UK.

Home Secretary Jack Straw refused to issue visitor visas to the group.

She said: "As a result of being unable to fulfil my promise to the patients destined for the UK I have lost faith in myself.

"Operation Angel will continue to operate without my involvement.

"I would like to thank each individual who has supported us throughout the past five years, enabling us to save so many lives."

Sally has always hit out at claims in the press that she risking the lives of refugees by transporting them through volatile war zones and that she is interfering with the work of the UN.

She has now found refuge for her group of sick children in Greece.

Mr Mendoza said: "The Greek Government has now agreed to take all 90 refugees and Sally will go with them.

"Their visas are being processed at the moment so they will probably be going some time next week.

"Sally will then return to Albania."

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