Germany 'regrets' release of classified US documents
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Nov 29, IRNA -- Germany on Monday voiced 'regret' over the release of secret American diplomatic documents by the whistleblower WikiLeaks website which included derisive remarks about German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
Talking at a routine weekly press briefing, government spokesman Steffen Seibert expressed 'regret over the publication of these confidential reports.'
The chancellery official refused to comment on the content of the US classified documents.
Meanwhile, German foreign ministry spokesperson Andreas Peschke said there would be a thorough analysis of the documents.
America's Ambassador in Germany Philip Murphy had reportedly said Gerrman Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle had 'little substance,' and elsewhere he was described as 'aggressive,' in embassy briefs for colleagues in Washington.
On Merkel, Murphy wrote, 'Avoids risk, not very creative.'
The leaks also revealed that an insider kept the US embassy informed during coalition talks last year, as Merkel's current government was being formed.
Asked whether the insider could be charged with espionage, a German justice ministry spokesman stressed the documents had first to be evaluated before any likely action could be taken.
According to news reports, some 1,719 of the cables came from the American embassy in Berlin.
OT**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30098277
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