Annan Summons British Envoy on Bugging Scandal

[Khephra]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called the British ambassador to a meeting on Thursday after his spokesman said he wanted a fuller explanation of alleged British bugging of his office.

The meeting, set on Wednesday, falls a week after Clare Short, Britain's former international development secretary, disclosed that British intelligence agents spied on Annan ahead of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last March.

U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard responded at the time by saying the bugging, if true, violated international law and should immediately be stopped.

Eckhard later added, ``I think it's probably safe to say that he would like a fuller explanation,'' when asked if Annan was waiting for the British government to contact him to offer an explanation or assurances there would be no more spying.

more..............

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq-britain-un.html

[acmavm]

1. I cannot imagine any excuse that would be sufficient to explain, let

alone justify, how damn sneaky rotten their behavior was when bugging Annan's phone. I just hope (and pray) that the British Ambassador coughs up a juicy detail or two about 'American involvement' and that Annan lets the world know. Please, please, please.