Pakistani bug experts sent to UK

By Paul Anderson
BBC correspondent in Islamabad

Pakistan says it has sent debugging experts to the UK to sweep its High Commission in London.

The move comes after reports that the building was bugged by the British internal security service, MI5.

The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Khurshid Kasuri, revealed the measure after returning to Pakistan from a European visit.

Mr Kasuri said he was still waiting for an explanation from the British Government.

Scotland Yard could have been involved too, says Pakistan

His trip included talks with the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw.

Mr Kasuri said Pakistan wanted to restore confidence in Britain, with which it has had long and friendly ties.

The report about the alleged bugging surfaced in a Sunday newspaper 10 days ago.

It said a building contractor working for MI5 planted the bugs in sensitive parts of the Pakistani High Commission.

Mr Kasuri said that if this was correct, then the incident was a violation of the Vienna Convention, which protects the rights and property of foreign diplomats.