WikiLeaks publishes US embassy cables

Whistleblowing website, WikiLeaks has published thousands of diplomatic cables that give an insight into American foreign concerns.

The release caused a diplomatic storm across the globe, as Washington rushed to warn allies over the weekend of the leak.

The documents  include candid accounts of many foreign heads of state, detail which will cause international embarrassment. They also reveal a number of disclosures relating to global foreign policy.

The revelations contained in the material include:

* Reports of some Arab leaders – including Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah – urging the US to attack Iran and end its nuclear weapons programme.

* Concern over the security of Pakistani nuclear material that could be used to make an atomic weapon.

* Widespread use of hacking by the Chinese government.

* Alleged links between the Russian government and organised crime.

* Criticism of the UK’s military operations in Afghanistan.

* Bargaining to empty the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

* US officials being instructed to spy on the UN’s leadership by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The leak follows the publication of 391,000 American documents relating to the Iraq war, which were given by WikiLeaks to the  Bureau.

The Iraq War Logs formed the basis of two films made by the Bureau for Dispatches and Al Jazeera, as well as a dedicated website.

The latest documents were given to newspapers including the Guardian, New York Times, Der Spiegal, El Pais and Le Monde. No broadcast organisations were involved.

The US government condemned the leak, saying it put lives at risk, as well as potentially compromising diplomatic discussions.