LONDON (AA) - UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has said his country's intelligence agencies were operating in compliance with laws.
“Our intelligence agencies practice and uphold UK laws at all times, even when dealing with information from outside the UK," he said, addressing the House of Commons, lower house of UK Parliament.
Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), a UK intelligence agency, has been subject of classified intelligence documents leaks by Eric Snowden, a former CIA contractor charged with espionage in the United States.
Snowden is believed to have been staying at a Moscow airport as his efforts for asylum have proved futile so far.
"The Government deplores the leaking of any classified information wherever it occurs," Hague said. "Such leaks can make the work of maintaining the security of our own country and that of our allies more difficult.”
"We want the British people to have confidence in the work of our Intelligence Agencies and in their adherence to the law and democratic values."
- "Unique" relationship
UK's foreign secretary said the intelligence partnership between the UK and the US has been "unique" and "essential to the security of both nations".
"The growing and diffuse nature of threats from terrorists, criminals or espionage has only increased the importance of the intelligence relationship with the United States," he said.
In a recent series of leaks, Snowden has revealed to the world that the US's National Security Agency (NSA) has been carrying out major spying operations on many EU countries and key non-EU US allies, including Turkey.
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday sought to attenuate the ramifications of spying allegations, while France and Germany indicated that next week's talks between EU and the US for an ambitious agreement on free trade might be delayed if no explanation for the claims was offered soon.
