Rob Cole, Sky News Online
An American politician has called for WikiLeaks to be designated a terrorist organisation following the release of the latest batch of leaked documents.
The White House said the leaks would hit counter-terrorism effortsNew York Republican Peter King said the organisation was a "clear and present danger" to the US.
"WikiLeaks presents a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States," he said. "I strongly urge you (Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton) to work within the Administration to use every offensive capability of the US government to prevent further damaging releases by WikiLeaks."
The Foreign Office said the actions of WikiLeaks risked British lives and security.
WikiLeaks presents a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States.
New York Republican Peter King on WikiLeaks
"WikiLeaks presents a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States," he said. "I strongly urge you (Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton) to work within the Administration to use every offensive capability of the US government to prevent further damaging releases by WikiLeaks."
The Foreign Office said the actions of WikiLeaks risked British lives and security.
WikiLeaks presents a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States.
New York Republican Peter King on WikiLeaks
"We condemn any unauthorised release of this classified information, just as we condemn leaks of classified material in the UK," a spokesman said.
"They can damage national security, are not in the national interest and, as the US have said, may put lives at risk."
The White House was also critical of the leak of US cables.
"These cables could compromise private discussions with foreign governments and opposition leaders, and when the substance of private conversations is printed on the front pages of newspapers across the world, it can deeply impact not only US foreign policy interests, but those of our allies and friends around the world," a spokesman said.
"Such disclosures put at risk our diplomats, intelligence professionals, and people around the world."
Roger Cressey, a former US cyber and counter-terrorism official, said the leaks would have a "devastating" effect on diplomatic relations and on the fight against al Qaeda.
"The essence of our foreign policy is our ability to talk straight and honest with our foreign counterparts and to keep those conversations out of the public domain," he said.
"This massive leak puts that most basic of diplomatic requirements at risk in the future."
The really secret information, I would suggest, is still pretty safe and probably won't end up on WikiLeaks.
Prof Michael Cox, associate fellow of the think-tank Chatham House
He added: "Think of relations with Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Afghanistan, governments who we need to work with us in defeating al Qaeda.
"This kind of leak will seriously hinder our ability to persuade these governments to support our counterterrorism priorities in the future."
However, Professor Michael Cox, associate fellow of the think-tank Chatham House, said the political fallout had been exaggerated.
"As to whether it's going to cause the kind of seismic collapse of international relations that governments have been talking about, I somehow doubt," he said.
"The really secret information, I would suggest, is still pretty safe and probably won't end up on WikiLeaks."
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