- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: WikiLeaks says hacked Syria emails released
- Date: 5th July 2012
- Summary: 'SYRIA FILES' WRITTEN ON SCREEN
- Embargoed: 20th July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3R4Z1YCUNQBKNYE5M2YXUKEVD
- Story Text: WikiLeaks said on Thursday (July 5) it had begun publishing more than two million emails from Syrian government officials that would embarrass not only Damascus, which is trying to crush a 16-month rebellion, but also its opponents.
WikiLeaks spokeswoman Sarah Harrison told a news conference the emails were from Syrian political figures, government ministries and companies, dating from August 2006 to March 2012.
"The Syria Files shine a light on the inner workings of the Syrian government and economy. But they also reveal how the West and Western companies say one thing and do another. The range of information extends from the intimate correspondence of the most senior Baath Party figures to records of financial transfers sent from Syrian ministries to other nations," she said.
WikiLeaks said that although it had not yet verified all the emails due to their significant volume, it was "statistically confident" the vast majority of files were genuine.
The emails are in several languages and include 68,000 in Russian. Moscow is one of Syria's main arms suppliers and has shielded its long-standing ally President Bashar al-Assad from tougher U.N. sanctions over his crackdown on a 16-month uprising.
WikiLeaks also said there were more than eight times as many documents in "The Syria Files" as the number of diplomatic cables the organisation published in 2010, when it angered Washington by disclosing confidential information relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Quoting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Harrison said the emails were bound to cause embarrassment.
"WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange cannot be with us today but has given this comment on the Syria Files: 'The material is embarrassing to Syria, but it is also embarrassing to Syria's external opponents. It helps us not merely to criticise one group or another but to understand their interests, actions and thoughts. It is only through understanding this conflict that we can hope to resolve it.'"
Assange himself has been holed-up in Ecuador's embassy in London since he made a surprise application for political asylum last month. The Australian former computer hacker is wanted for questioning in Sweden over sex crime allegations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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