The U.S. State Department has warned foreign governments not to retaliate against human rights activists, journalists or others whose dealings with American officials have been revealed in secret diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.
State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said certain governments have been told that if they take "adverse actions" against sources cited in the cables, it could harm their relations with the United States. He did not name any governments.
Crowley said that in a few cases, the U.S. has assisted in moving individuals to safer locations since WikiLeaks began releasing sensitive State Department cables in November.
"We've identified several hundred people worldwide that we feel are at potential risk,” Crowley told reporters “It is a range of people from civil society, journalists, government officials. And in a few instances, we have provided assistance to individuals at risk, and we will continue to reach out to them, to monitor their situation."
Crowley said a team of State Department officials has been reviewing the cables released by WikiLeaks to determine who could be endangered.
The U.S. spokesman declined to provide more details, saying additional information could jeopardize the safety of people potentially at risk.
compiled from agency reports