DUNDEE University's controversial new rector Craig Murray, the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, has vowed to defend proposed job cuts at the higher education institution.

Last month, it was announced up to 100 staff may be lost in smaller departments such as town planning and modern languages, in a bid to claw back funds from their £1.6m deficit. A review group will report plans of potential cost savings tomorrow at the university's ruling court.

London-basedMurraywasan ambassador to Uzbekistan before being dismissed from his post in 2004 after raisingseriousconcernsoverthe regime's human rights record.

He said: "The battle starts on Monday. I will be fighting straight away on the financial situation and persuading the members of court that there is no need to take any such drastically hurried decisions."

Murrayalsocriticisedarecent restructuring of the university, saying "we've now got a deputy principal and four vice-principals, all of whom are on very large salaries and have assistants."