'Blair could be unaware of circulation'

In an interview with The Independent newspaper Clare Short, Britain's former international development secretary, said that it was likely Blair would not have known that the transcripts were circulated around government.

"I'm afraid that there is no question that such transcripts were regularly circulated," Short said.

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"It is likely that the prime minister was unaware of this," she said.

"He's not a man for detail but he is in a position to stop the practice."

Blair, who called Short's allegation "deeply irresponsible" and insisted that British intelligence agents always acted within the law, resisted calls Friday to come clean on the allegations.