Washington also wanted credit card numbers, email addresses, phone, fax and pager numbers and even frequent-flier account numbers for UN figures and "biographic and biometric information on UN Security Council permanent representatives."

In addition, the U.S. wanted intelligence on the contentious issue of the "relationship or funding between UN personnel and/or missions and terrorist organizations" and links between the UN Relief and Works Agency in the Middle East and Hamas and Hezbollah.

The secret directive was sent to U.S. missions at the UN in New York, Vienna and Rome as well as 33 embassies and consulates, including those in London, Paris and Moscow.

The Guardian said in its website that the operation targeted at the UN appears to have involved all of U.S. main intelligence agencies, noting the CIA's clandestine service, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI were included in the "reporting and collection needs" cable alongside the State Department under the heading " collection requirements and tasking."

The UN has previously asserted that bugging the secretary general is illegal, citing the 1946 UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities which states "the premises of the United Nations shall be inviolable."

The 1961 Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, which covers the UN, also states that "the official correspondence of the mission shall be inviolable."

The U.S. contributes to about a quarter of UN budget, with more than 3 billion dollars for this year.

U.S. State Department and the White House have warned against the release of classified cables, saying they would be harmful and deeply impact U.S. interests.

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