India opposed to leakage of confidential diplomatic cables: foreign secretary

Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao has come out against the leakage of US diplomatic cables by Wikileaks, noting that such communication between an embassy and its foreign ministry were 'privileged' and not for public consumption.

''All democracies and civilised societies operate on certain rules and regulations,'' Rao noted while launching the redesigned websites of the ministry of external affairs and public diplomacy.

''There is privileged communication that a government enters into, let us say between an embassy and the headquarters. This is what was happening in the case of American leaked cables.''

Wikileaks has carried embarrassing details of cables sent by US diplomats from India and other countries to Washington DC. The American government has accused the site, operated by Australia-born Julian Assange – who was arrested in London on charges of rape in Sweden – of revealing confidential information about secret service personnel and thus endangering their lives.

The cables revealed top US diplomats' opinions about Indian leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The US government had earlier this month advised several governments, including the Indian, about the possible embarrassment caused by the leakage of sensitive information.