Head of security agency blames foreigners for leaks

Andrzej Barcikowski, the Head of the Internal Security Agency (ABW), said yesterday in a behind closed doors session of the Sejm that he expected newspapers to publish stories concerning abuses in the pharmaceutical industry, the gambling bill and gas deliveries. In his view, these stories are being incited by lobbyists representing private companies and foreign secret agents. Barcikowski mentioned the names of alleged agents and stated that recent newspaper stories revealing wrongdoings connected to gas deliveries and the car registration system (CEPiK) were also the result of foreign lobbying. Deputies from opposition parties suggested that Barcikowski had decided to strike first and protect the SLD from the justified attacks of the newspapers and public opinion. The Civic Platform called for Barcikowski's dismissal. "Mister Barcikowski is doing a good job", said Prime Minister Leszek Miller in comment. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 4) M.K.