US News
Bush's Attorney General to testify on domestic spying programme
By DPA
Jan 13, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Friday he would testify in Congress on President George W. Bush's controversial domestic surveillance programme.

'What I'm going to do is come before the Senate Judiciary Committee and talk about the legal authorities in connection with this programme,' Gonzales said.

Both Democrats and Republicans have called for a review of the programme because the domestic eavesdropping it authorizes occurs without court-approved warrants.

Gonzales noted, however, that he would not discuss operational aspects of the programme, revealed by The New York Times in December.

Gonzales, speaking at a press conference, affirmed his position that Bush had the power to put in place the programme, which is run by the National Security Agency.

'We believe the legal authorities are there and that the president acted consistent with his legal authorities and in a manner that he felt was necessary and appropriate to protect this country against this new kind of threat,' Gonzales said.

Last month, Bush reiterated his support for the programme, saying it only targets people with terrorist connections.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has begun an investigation into who leaked classified information about the programme to the media.