Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who never met a microphone he didn't like, has launched a lawsuit for breach of confidence against Peter Newman, author of The Secret Mulroney Tapes: Unguarded Confessions of a Prime Minister.

The National Post first reported the story. Here's an excerpt from the CTV.ca story:

Mulroney says his one-time friend and former confidante betrayed their friendship by not handing over the tapes to him, or using them for a scholarly biography.

Conrad Black, who has a few legal troubles of his own these days, had Newman served at the Maclean's bash last week with papers for a $2 million libel lawsuit.

Again from the CTV.ca story:

According to the statement of claim, Black alleges that Newman "falsely and maliciously" accused him of breaking criminal laws, including mail and wire fraud and money laundering.

The comments are contained in Newman's 2004 autobiography, There be Dragons: Telling Tales of People, Passion and Power.

In the chapter on Black, called Black Magic: How Conrad Black became a Weapon of Mass Self-Destruction, Newman mused about Lord Black's "downfall."

Black alleges in the lawsuit he has suffered damages as a result of Newman's defamatory comments.