WikiLeaks endangered activists, journalists: US

US diplomats warn hundreds of human rights activists, journalists and foreign government officials they are in danger.

US diplomats are warning hundreds of human rights activists, journalists, and foreign government officials they are in danger after the massive WikiLeaks dump, the State Department said Friday.

"We are focused on people who have been identified in documents and assess whether there's a greater risk to them of violence, imprisonment, or other serious harm," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.

Confirming a New York Times report, he said some 30 to 60 people are studying the cases at any one time, adding the State Department has "identified several hundred people worldwide that we feel are at potential risk."

The people affected by the whistleblower website's release of thousands of US diplomatic and military cables range from human rights and other civil society activists, journalists, and government officials.

"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," he said.

"In particular cases, we have made it clear to governments that any adverse actions against individuals identified by WikiLeaks will affect future relations with those governments," he said.

In a few cases, he added, the US government has helped move people to safer locations.

About the 99 percent of 251,287 cables obtained by the whistleblower website have not been released yet, but the State Department has reviewed most of the documents and distributed many of them for review by diplomats posted at embassies abroad.

WikiLeaks and a small group of newspapers -- including the Times -- that first released some of the cables have redacted them to remove many names of sources.

But Washington is also concerned that foreign intelligence services are seeking to obtain the entire raft of documents, according to the Times.