Beleaguered NBC anchor Brian Williams has finally been suspended without pay amid a firestorm of criticism over false claims he was inside a helicopter that was gunned down over Iraq. Williams, anchor and Managing Editor of the flagship Nightly News show, had been under fire for 11 days after being called out on the overblown story by indignant veterans of the 2003 invasion. Bosses at the network finally acted after deciding Williams's own decision to remove himself from anchoring for 'several days' was not enough. Scroll down for video Suspended: Brian Williams's pay has been stopped for six months during the suspension. The decision was announced by the British president of NBC News, Deborah Turness, right, who has overseen a string of high-profile departures
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Deborah Turness told NBC staff about suspension Tuesday evening
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Said his puffed-up retellings of time in Iraq were 'completely inappropriate'
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NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke said Williams had network's trust
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Williams had already removed himself from nightly anchor duties
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Lester Holt will continue to fill the anchor's chair during suspension
In a memo to NBC staffers, @placeholder said: 'he and I have come to the conclusion that this is not the right fit.'