Panama president wanted to wiretap rivals - WikiLeaks

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Panama president wanted to wiretap rivals - WikiLeaks
37 mins ago

Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli tried to bully the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to turn its wiretapping program on political rivals, a State Department cable released by WikiLeaks said.

Martinelli, a supermarket tycoon elected last year, sent a "cryptic" message to the U.S. ambassador in Panama which said, "I need help with tapping phones," according to the cable from August 2009 published by Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"He made reference to various groups and individuals whom he believes should be wiretapped, and he clearly made no distinction between legitimate security targets and political enemies," the cable written by then Ambassador Barbara Stephenson said.

When the ambassador refused, Martinelli complained she was being "too legal" and made an implicit threat to stop helping the U.S. government with anti-narcotics operations in Panama if he could not get help with wiretaps, the cable said.

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