GEORGE Galloway is suing the National Union of Students for libel after it labelled him a "rape denier".

The Respect MP said his action was prompted by the NUS's claim and its ban on him from speaking at events affiliated to the union.

It follows Mr Galloway's controversial remarks about the sexual assault allegations against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, which have forced the leader of his party to resign.

The Bradford West MP's spokesman said: "The NUS can ban whoever they want, but George is categorically not a rape denier."

In August, Mr Galloway dismissed the allegations against Mr Assange, who has sought political asylum to prevent his extradition to face questioning about claims made by two women in Sweden.

He said they were nothing more than "bad sexual etiquette". Mr Galloway had previously said the women's claims were totally unproven and the Wikileaks founder had been set up as part of an international conspiracy for leaking confidential US Government documents via his website.

Respect leader Salma Yaqoob later resigned, blaming a breakdown in trust after she clashed with Mr Galloway over the remarks.

His comments were also lambasted by anti-rape cam-paigners and led to him being banned from NUS premises.

A spokesman for Mr Galloway said the NUS comments were "defamatory" and "offensive". He added that the MP was "absolutely clear that no means no" and "non- consensual sex is rape".

The NUS said it would not comment until it had received a letter from Mr Galloway's lawyers.