MEPs give police greater powers to spy on citizens

The European Parliament has approved legislation giving law enforcement agencies greater powers to eavesdrop on telephone calls, read private e-mails and intercept other electronic communications.

MEPs passed the watered-down data protection and privacy rules yesterday after bowing to pressure from certain European Governments eager to boost their powers as part of the "war against terrorism".

The new legislation still faces final approval by the 15 EU member states. It has already been criticised by civil liberties groups and the Reporters Sans Frontieres organisation, which said the law rolls back the right to free expression.