Blair is a liar if he denies bugging claims, says Short

FORMER cabinet secretary Clare Short said last night British Prime Minister Tony Blair would be a liar if he denied her claims that British agents had bugged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's office.

Mr Blair had earlier branded Ms Short's claims as "irresponsible". However, he refused to comment on the substance of the claims, which stunned diplomats and MPs, but stressed that should not be taken as confirmation they were true.

But Ms Short hit back, saying the premier would be lying if he denied her claims. She told Channel 4 News last night: "He can say I'm not telling the truth in which case he's a liar, or he can say it's all true and that would quite simply be too shocking to cope with.