Blix's phone tapped: sources.

Blix's phone tapped: sources.
27/02/2004. ABC News Online
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1054505.htm]
Last Update: Friday, February 27, 2004. 11:59am (AEDT)

Hans Blix ... conversations in Iraq monitored, sources say. (Reuters)

Blix's phone tapped: sources
The British or US intelligence services monitored former United Nations chief weapons inspector Hans Blix's mobile phone whenever he was in Iraq, sources have told the ABC.

The claim comes after former British cabinet minister Clare Short said the British intelligence service had spied on United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan as the United States and Britain tried to win UN support for invading Iraq.

Andrew Fowler from the ABC's Investigative Unit says sources have told him that Australia's Office of National Assessments has read transcripts of Dr Blix's phone conversations in Iraq.

"That's what I'm told, specifically each time he entered Iraq his phone was targeted and recorded and the transcripts were then made available to the United States, Australia, Canada, the UK and also New Zealand," Fowler said.

A spokesman for Prime Minister John Howard has refused to comment on the claims.

Mr Howard's spokesman says the Government does not confirm nor deny matters relating to intelligence.

In other developments:
United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan says any attempts to spy on his office would be illegal and should cease immediately. (Full Story)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has declined to address claims that British intelligence services spied on UN chief Kofi Annan but said the former minister who made them was undermining British security. (Full Story)