This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7269452.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bush urges wiretap immunity law | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| President George W Bush has urged Congress to pass a bill to help eavesdrop on US telecommunications linked to terror investigations. | President George W Bush has urged Congress to pass a bill to help eavesdrop on US telecommunications linked to terror investigations. |
| At the White House, he said the renewal of the expired intelligence law on wiretapping was an "urgent priority". | At the White House, he said the renewal of the expired intelligence law on wiretapping was an "urgent priority". |
| The legislation would give retroactive legal immunity to telecoms firms that helped the government after the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US. | The legislation would give retroactive legal immunity to telecoms firms that helped the government after the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US. |
| Mr Bush warned the programme was "vital to our national security". | Mr Bush warned the programme was "vital to our national security". |
| The Protect America Act allows the US authorities to tap into phone calls and e-mails routed through the US - without a warrant - and was passed last August and lapsed earlier this month. | |
| But the act did not grant immunity to the firms which co-operated with the programme set up by the Bush administration after the 9-11 attacks. | But the act did not grant immunity to the firms which co-operated with the programme set up by the Bush administration after the 9-11 attacks. |
| Several lawsuits have since been filed against the companies by campaigners over violation of privacy laws. | Several lawsuits have since been filed against the companies by campaigners over violation of privacy laws. |
| Mr Bush told the White House on Tuesday such lawsuits would allow al-Qaeda to scrutinise US intelligence methods and gift them a "roadmap on how to avoid the surveillance". | Mr Bush told the White House on Tuesday such lawsuits would allow al-Qaeda to scrutinise US intelligence methods and gift them a "roadmap on how to avoid the surveillance". |