Colombian spy agency no longer to control wiretaps

 

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) – Colombia’s domestic intelligence agency, which is embroiled in an illegal wiretap investigation, no longer will be directly in charge of electronic interceptions, President Alvaro Uribe said Thursday.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has said that he did not order any wiretaps.

All wiretaps now will be under the control of the National Police, Uribe said at an early-morning news conference.

The Administrative Department of Security, known by its Spanish acronym DAS, is under investigation over allegations that it illegally wiretapped judges, opposition politicians, members of the ruling party and journalists.

“We will continue reform of DAS,” Uribe said.

Electronic intelligence gathering will continue, Uribe said, but DAS will have to obtain a judge’s order and approval from the National Police.

“The police will verify that the request contains all the legal documents, and then the interception will proceed,” Uribe said.

The president sought to reassure Colombians that the National Police, which also had been accused of conducting illegal wiretaps, has made strenuous efforts to fix the problem.

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Chuponeo a Víctor Andrés García Belaúnde