WikiLeaks cable leak 'irresponsible', says Australia

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/31/wikileaks-cable-leak-australia

Australia's attorney general has described WikiLeaks as "incredibly irresponsible" for publishing the names of 23 Australians accused by security services of having links to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

The cable, emanating from the US embassy in Canberra in January 2010, recommended that 11 Australians be placed on a no-fly list and a further 12 on a terrorism watch list.

"The publication of any information that could compromise Australia's national security – or inhibit the ability of intelligence agencies to monitor potential threats – is incredibly irresponsible," said the attorney general, Robert McClelland, breaking the government's longstanding position not to comment on WikiLeaks' material.

"On occasions in the past, WikiLeaks has decided to redact identifying features where security operations or safety could be put at risk," he said. "This has not occurred in this case."