U.S. official brands Assange as vandal

PanARMENIAN.Net - A senior U.S. government official has branded the WikiLeaks disclosures an "act of vandalism".

Speaking in Brussels, Philip Verveer strongly refuted claims by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his supporters that he was acting in he public interest in publishing thousands of confidential diplomatic cables.

Verveer, U.S. coordinator for international communication and information policy, said of the revelations, "This was not an act of conscience but an act of vandalism."

He said that many of the disclosures were "truly harmful" to "many individuals", including both private citizens and those in public office.

His comments come as Assange currently faces possible extradition from the UK, where he lives, to Sweden.

"It is not a case of whistleblowing, but feels more like vandalism," said Verveer, who is responsible for coordinating all U.S. telecoms and internet policy over a broad range of issues, the Parliament reported.