Straw: Smith acted properly in leak case

LONDON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- British Justice Secretary Jack Straw says Home Secretary Jacqui Smith doesn't need to apologize for not intervening in the arrest of a member of Parliament.

Smith has been under attack from Conservative Party leaders for allowing the arrest of Tory MP Damian Green as part of an investigation over leaks of government documents and reports to the media. But Straw defended her Sunday, The Times of London reported.

He told the newspaper that in his four years leading the Home Office, he couldn't remember one occasion in which he was informed of the details of a police investigation.

"Everybody who has been made aware of these unfolding events, of course, is surprised by the nature of the raid, and I certainly understand the concern of my parliamentary colleagues," Straw said. "If the Home Secretary, any Home Secretary, had offered an apology there would then be a huge furor about the fact the Home Secretary was prejudging the actions and activities of the police without an investigation."

Green was questioned for nine hours last week on suspicion of leaking documents to the media to embarrass the Labor Party government.