Wikileaks claims ‘criticise UK’

Criticisms of British actions are included in a fresh leak of US State Department files, the Guardian claims.

The paper is one of several around the world carrying the claims from the US Wikileaks website.

It says the files include “devastating” criticism of UK operations in Afghanistan and serious political criticisms of David Cameron.

It also alleges the documents include claims of inappropriate behaviour by a member of the royal family.

There are also said to be requests for specific intelligence about individual MPs.

The files are among thousands leaked to the whistleblowers’ site.

Earlier, the BBC was told the leak would cause embarrassment to Prime Minister David Cameron and his predecessor Gordon Brown.

Guardian writer Simon Hoggart said they would show the PM was “not very highly regarded”.

The Foreign Office said the leaks could damage national security.

The leaks are expected to include documents covering US dealings and diplomats’ confidential views of countries including Australia, Canada, Israel, Russia, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Hoggart confirmed the Guardian would be releasing extensive details of the files overnight.

He said: “It is going to give the candid American views of world leaders and indeed the reverse too.”

Earlier this week Wikileaks said release of files would be nearly seven times larger than the nearly 400,000 Pentagon documents related to the Iraq war it published in October.

The UK Ministry of Defence has urged newspaper editors to “bear in mind” the national security implications of publishing the information.

The US government has warned the leaks will threaten global counter-terrorism operations and jeopardise America’s relations with its allies.

But Wikileaks argues that its previous releases shed light on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They included allegations of torture by Iraqi forces and reports that suggested 15,000 additional civilian deaths in Iraq.

A Foreign Office spokesman told the BBC: “We condemn any unauthorised release of this classified information, just as we condemn leaks of classified material in the UK.

“They can damage national security, are not in the national interest and, as the US have said, may put lives at risk.

“We have a very strong relationship with the US government. That will continue”.

The US ambassador to London, Louis Susman, said he did not believe the leaked diplomatic communications regarding British politicians would damage Anglo-American relations.

“Diplomatic cables inform the foreign policy decisions made by the US government but should not be seen as representing US policy on their own,” he said.

“They are a part of the extensive co-operation we have with other countries, which is based on relationships of trust, so that we can share perspectives on events in confidence.

“When this trust is betrayed, it is harmful to the United States and our interests.

“However, I am confident that our uniquely productive relationship with the United Kingdom will remain close and strong, focused on promoting our shared objectives and values.”

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