Bush signs wiretapping law

2008-07-10 20:10

Washington - US President George W Bush on Thursday signed a controversial law expanding legal authority for wiretaps by spy agencies after a fierce battle in Congress.

The law includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications firms which aided warrantless government surveillance operations following the September 11 attacks in 2001 - a key demand of the White House.

The bill had sparked fierce debate between civil liberties advocates who argue it eroded checks on the power of government and intelligence officials who feared the row was compromising their power to thwart terror attacks.

Senators finally voted on Wednesday 69 to 28 to pass the measure, after blocking several attempts to water down the immunity for telecom firms.

- AFP