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.

"Or, he can come after me and that's what he's chosen to do. Me, I have nothing to lose."

A spokesman for Mr Annan said bugging of his office would be illegal and should stop immediately if it existed.

A plainly angered Mr Blair said: "The fact that these allegations were made is deeply irresponsible."

Mr Blair did not rule out disciplinary action against Ms Short, which could range from suspension of the Labour whip in the Commons to moves to expel her from the party.

Ms Short's claims came as she commented on the collapse of the official secrets case yesterday against ex-GCHQ employee Katharine Gun who leaked details of requests for bugging help from American security services who wanted to tap UN delegates' phones.

When asked about spying on the UN she told BBC Radio 4: "These things are done. And in the case of Kofi's office, it has been done for some time."