Wikileaks strikes first blow, German Vice-chancellor sacks manager for 'spying'

Whistle-blower website Wikileaks struck its first blow, as German vice-chancellor Guido Westerwelle sacked his office manager on charges of spying for the United States. Helmut Metzner has reportedly admitted to have given regular information to the US embassy in Berlin.

He has been relieved from his duties, a spokesman for The Free Democrats Party (FDP) said in a statement on Friday.

The US diplomatic cables published earlier this week reported that Philip Murphy, the US ambassador in Berlin, stated that a mole, who was 'young, up-and-coming party loyalist,' gave a detailed account of the scuffle within the German Government over nuclear disarmament. The cable sent to Washington also stated that the mole maintained that Wolfgang Schauble, the current finance minister was neurotic. Some Diplomatic cables also described vice-chancellor Westerwelle as an arrogant critic of the US administration.

The FDP also stated that the 42-year-old did not pass on any confidential material to the US Embassy. Metzner was responsible for organizing campaigns and developing a strategy at the party for international relations.

Swedish diplomat Johan Frisell who briefed the Washington on internal talks between European Union ministers on the Georgia war in 2008 is also under spotlight. Candian ambassador to Kabul, William Crosbie, has also offered to resign over his briefings on Afghanistan.