Former MP: Britain Bugged Annan's Office

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain spied on U.N. chief Kofi Annan before the Iraq war, former minister Clare Short said on Thursday, threatening a fresh crisis for Prime Minister Tony Blair and drawing an angry response from the United Nations.

Blair declined to address the claim, beyond saying British security services acted within domestic and international law.

But the U.N. declared any such operation would be illegal.

"We want this action to stop if indeed it has been carried out," U.N. chief spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters.

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Posted by Palabris at February 26, 2004 01:44 PM