The leaks that shook US diplomacy
What?
A whistle-blowing website has released more than 250,000 classified cables sent by US embassies worldwide. Sensitive revelations embarrassed the White House.
Where?
The WikiLeaks website gave documents to five newspapers, one each in Britain, the US, Germany, France and Spain.
When?
WikiLeaks released the documents on Sunday. They were written between five years ago and last February.
Who?
Some of the most damaging documents reveal US diplomats' unflattering opinions of foreign leaders, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Why?
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he made the confidential documents public so as to expose the hypocrisy of US diplomacy.
How?
How has the US responded? The American government has decided to reverse a post-September 11 decision to encourage officials to share sensitive documents. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also called angry foreign leaders to mend diplomatic ties.
