10-11-2013, 09:30 AM
4:49 PM Sunday Nov 10, 2013
Britain's security services have been accused of spying on Iceland during a bitter row following the financial crisis.
Icelandic politician Birgitta Jónsdóttir says spy agencies monitored messages sent by Iceland's negotiating team as Britain was trying to recover savers' cash held in collapsed Icelandic banks.
Her comments risk dragging the UK deeper into the row triggered by whistleblower Edward Snowden. His leaked documents suggest the US National Security Agency monitored 35 world leaders' phone conversations while Britain's GCHQ had a 'listening post' in Berlin.
Ms Jónsdóttir said in 2010 she warned members of Iceland's negotiating team to avoid using web-based email after being tipped off by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Soon afterwards a G-mail message was leaked from Iceland negotiator Donald Johnston, which included suggested strategies such as: "If the British and the Dutch refuse to negotiate further and indeed stick with their "final offer", I believe Iceland should stop being "Mr Nice Guy" and take off the gloves."
UK sources urged caution regarding Ms Jónsdóttir's claims.
Britain's security services have been accused of spying on Iceland during a bitter row following the financial crisis.
Icelandic politician Birgitta Jónsdóttir says spy agencies monitored messages sent by Iceland's negotiating team as Britain was trying to recover savers' cash held in collapsed Icelandic banks.
Her comments risk dragging the UK deeper into the row triggered by whistleblower Edward Snowden. His leaked documents suggest the US National Security Agency monitored 35 world leaders' phone conversations while Britain's GCHQ had a 'listening post' in Berlin.
Ms Jónsdóttir said in 2010 she warned members of Iceland's negotiating team to avoid using web-based email after being tipped off by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Soon afterwards a G-mail message was leaked from Iceland negotiator Donald Johnston, which included suggested strategies such as: "If the British and the Dutch refuse to negotiate further and indeed stick with their "final offer", I believe Iceland should stop being "Mr Nice Guy" and take off the gloves."
UK sources urged caution regarding Ms Jónsdóttir's claims.
"Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws. - Mayer Rothschild
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass