WASHINGTON, Oct 24: Two former CIA operatives on Friday asked the Senate to investigate who revealed the identity of a CIA operative to the media amid allegations that the White House might have been responsible for the leak.

The CIA officer’s name was revealed after her husband, former US ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, raised questions about the pre- war intelligence on Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction.

Talking to reporters in Washington, two former CIA operatives, Larry Johnson and Jim Marchinkowski, asked the Senate to investigate the leak and catch those responsible.

Larry Johnson told reporters that revealing the identity of a secret operative was a betrayal of national security and could endanger CIA field officers across the world.

“We have to start with the damage to Mrs Wilson. Her life has been put at risk. The people that she was working with overseas who were spies, they are potentially at risk. You could potentially have people dead because of this,” he added.

Agent Jim Marcinkowski, who appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday to explain the situation, said the committee members were receptive to his request to have a closed session of the intelligence committee.

“I believe all the members were very concerned. They were very sincere in their concern and I have confidence that they are going to do the right thing.” Mr Marchinkowski said the CIA was upset because the exposure of an undercover intelligence officer by the US government was unprecedented.

Although both the agents are supporters of the ruling Republican Party, they said their party affiliation does not stop them from demanding a full investigation into the matter.

“As a Republican, I think we need to be consistent on this. It doesn’t matter who did it, it didn’t matter which party was involved. This isn’t about partisan politics. This is about protecting national security and national security assets and in this case there has been a betrayal, not only of the CIA officers there, but really a betrayal of those of us who have kept the secrets over the years on this point,” said former agent Johnson.

Agent Marchinkowski said he hoped that the FBI, which is investigating the controversy, would find the person responsible for the leak and expose him or her.

The FBI has so far questioned more than three-dozen Bush administration officials including political adviser to the president, Karl Rove, and press secretary Scott McClellan.

The interviews have extended beyond the White House to other government agencies. Officials from the Defence and State departments and the CIA also have been probed.

FBI agents have received box loads of documents from these departments including White House phone logs and e-mails.

Investigators are trying to determine who leaked the name of Valerie Plame to syndicated columnist Robert Novak in July, soon after her husband publicly disagreed with President Bush’s position on the Afghan war.

Leaking of classified information, such as an undercover officer’s name, is a criminal offence.