Spy probe criticised

A report by the United states justice department into the handling of allegations of spying against a nuclear scientist has severely criticised both the initial probe by the energy department and the subsequent investigation by the FBI.

But it said charges against the scientist, Wen Ho Lee, who was born in Taiwan, were not racially-motivated.

Mr Lee spent nine months in solitary confinement following suspicions that he'd passed nuclear secrets to China.

No spying charges were brought against him however and the justice department report denounces the initial inquiry for making premature, unwarranted judgements which the FBI failed to investigate properly.

Edited extracts of the report were released as part of a legal action.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service