New Australian Big Brother Sexual Misconduct Claims  7/4/06

Beleaguered Australia reality TV show Big Brother has been marred by another claim of sexual misconduct from a female contestant.

Michael 'Ashley' Cox and Michael 'John' Bric, were thrown off the program on Saturday (01JULY06) after Bric allegedly held down contestant Camilla Halliwell while Cox rubbed his crotch in her face.

A second female housemate, Rita Lazzarotto, has come forward with claims of similar sexual misconduct.

Lazarotto appeared on last year's (05) series as an "intruder" and says she was "turkey slapped" in the same way as Halliwell by housemate Heath Tournier on her second night in the house.

Her admission has added to fury over Network Ten's handling of the incident involving Halliwell, who was left to explain to fellow housemates why the two men had been expelled.

Video of the incident in the early hours of Saturday shows Halliwell clearly objecting to her treatment.

The incident was not broadcast on television, but may have breached broadcasting rules because it was streamed live on the official Australian Big Brother website.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard is leading a chorus of demands for the program to be taken off the air.