Monica Lewinsky made her first public appearance in Britain Monday amid chaotic scenes at Harrods store. The 25-year-old former White House intern was led away in tears from the packed book department of the London store after signing just five copies of "Monica's Story," the book about her affair with President Clinton. Flanked by security guards, Lewinsky brushed tears away from her eyes and said to her chaperones, "I can't do it" after facing a barrage of camera flashes and shouts from nearly 200 journalists gathered for the event. But, apparently determined to press on with a nationwide publicity tour to mark the publication of the 288-page book, Lewinsky returned to her desk in the store after 20 minutes, amid pleas for calm.

  • Minutes earlier an obviously shaken Lewinsky had refused to answer questions about her role in the White House scandal. Organizers of her autograph session claimed their glamorous visitor, dressed in a navy pinstripe trouser suit and wearing her hair in her trademark bob, was laboring under the effects of a flu bug and had felt the need to leave.