29 February 2004	Sunday	08 Muharram 1425

LONDON, Feb 28: Supporters of Prime Minister Tony Blair hit back on Saturday at Clare Short, the former minister who alleged that British spies bugged the office of the UN chief during the tense weeks leading to the invasion of Iraq.

Mr Blair himself set the tone by describing Ms Short's revelation as "profoundly irresponsible" and telling followers in his Labour Party that her position was providing ammunition to the opposition Conservative party.

Home Secretary David Blunkett, Britain's interior minister, and other senior party figures also jumped into the fray, accusing Ms Short of personal vindictiveness against Mr Blair.

Ms Short revealed the spying on the office of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan after prosecutors dropped charges against a British intelligence translator, Katharine Gun, who leaked a memo revealing British and US spy operations against members of the UN Security Council members in the run-up to the war.

Ms Short said transcripts of Mr Annan's bugged telephone calls circulated around the table at British cabinet meetings.

While Mr Blair aides attacked the former minister, opposition members demanded that the prime minister say whether she was telling the truth or not.

The government has refused to reveal the reasons why it joined the invasion.-AFP