Dutch Oil trading company Trafigura Beheer BV says the BBC has apologised and agreed to pay damages for incorrectly alleging that it caused deaths and serious injuries by dumping toxic waste in west Africa.

Several thousand people sought medical treatment after a tanker chartered by Trafigura unloaded the waste at several sites around the Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, in August 2006.

Trafigura has argued it is not legally liable for the dumping because a local contractor disposed of the waste. It has also said the waste was not dangerous enough to be fatal.

It says the BBC allegations made in its Newsnight television program in May were "wholly false."

The BBC confirmed it apologized to Trafigura in court on Thursday and agreed to pay 25,000 pounds ($40,000) in damages.