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Bush warns Congress on wiretaps | Bush warns Congress on wiretaps |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President George W Bush has told Congress he will not accept another temporary bill allowing warrantless wiretapping of foreign terror suspects. | US President George W Bush has told Congress he will not accept another temporary bill allowing warrantless wiretapping of foreign terror suspects. |
Mr Bush said he wanted Congress to approve legislation which was permanent and provide retroactive immunity to telephone companies that co-operated. | Mr Bush said he wanted Congress to approve legislation which was permanent and provide retroactive immunity to telephone companies that co-operated. |
"The time for debate is over," Mr Bush told reporters in Washington. "I will not accept any temporary extension." | "The time for debate is over," Mr Bush told reporters in Washington. "I will not accept any temporary extension." |
The current legislation, last extended in August, will expire on Saturday. | The current legislation, last extended in August, will expire on Saturday. |
The Protect America Act, which amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, allows the US authorities to tap into phone calls and e-mails to or from the United States, as long as the target is abroad. | The Protect America Act, which amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, allows the US authorities to tap into phone calls and e-mails to or from the United States, as long as the target is abroad. |
Previously, they had to seek approval from a special court in advance. | Previously, they had to seek approval from a special court in advance. |
The act did not, however, grant immunity to the telecommunication companies who have been co-operating with the government since it was passed. | |
Several lawsuits have since been filed against them by campaigners for collaborating with the US authorities and violating privacy laws. | |
'Flow of intelligence' | |
On Tuesday, the Senate approved full legislation which would authorise the surveillance of foreign terror suspects for another six years and included the provision of immunity for telecommunication companies. | |
It is time for Congress to pass a law that provides a long-term foundation to protect our country and they must do so immediately US President George W Bush Q&A: US surveillance row | |
However, the legislation still needs to be backed by the House of Representatives, where leading Democrats have reportedly proposed extending the temporary legislation for another three weeks. | |
But speaking at a news conference in the Oval Office, President Bush said he would not accept another extension, insisting Congress should pass permanent legislation before the current law expires at midnight on Saturday. | |
"It's time for Congress to ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted," Mr Bush said alongside the Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell. | |
"It is time for Congress to pass a law that provides a long-term foundation to protect our country and they must do so immediately." | |
Mr Bush also stressed the importance of giving companies retroactive immunity from prosecution for co-operating with the government without court approval. | |
"We need the co-operation of telecommunications companies," he said. "If these companies are subjected to lawsuits costing billions of dollars, they won't participate, they won't help us." | |
The chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, John Conyers, has however said he still opposes giving such companies immunity. | |
"There is no basis for the broad telecommunications company amnesty provisions advocated by the administration," he wrote in an letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding. |