FOX News Channel's Geraldo Rivera today "volunteered" to leave Iraq, after being effectively ordered out of the country by the Pentagon.

The dispute arose when the Pentagon said Rivera "compromised operational security" following a live report in which he drew a map of Iraq in the desert sand, pinpointed the location of the Army's 101st Airborne Division - with which he was embedded, and indicated where the division would head next. Officials for the Pentagon said on Monday that field commanders had demanded FNC remove Rivera from the battlefield, and that FNC had agreed.

However, Rivera suggested later that all was well, and that he'd be staying put with the 101st Airborne Division. He speculated that his former employer NBC had been "spreading some lies" about him.

After initially saying that the matter was under continued review with the Pentagon, FNC has now issued a statement saying: "Geraldo Rivera volunteered to return to Kuwait from his embedment with U.S. troops after learning of concerns that he may have inadvertently violated the rules governing embedded journalists. Given those concerns, Fox News and Geraldo thought it better he return to Kuwait while the situation is reviewed. Fox News believes that Geraldo did not knowingly disregard the rules of embedment."