US President George W Bush authorised intelligence leaks ahead of the invasion of Iraq, court papers have revealed.
The disclosure came as a federal prosecutor continues to investigate the leaking of the identity of a CIA agent, Valerie Plame, in 2003.
That disclosure came after her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, cast doubt on the administration's assertion that Iraq had sought to buy uranium from Niger for weapons use.
Former top White House aide Lewis 'Scooter' Libby is currently facing charges of obstruction and lying in the investigation, and is suspected of having revealed Ms Plame's role to a reporter - a federal crime in the US.
According to a document filed this week by federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, Mr Libby said he spoke to a New York Times reporter in July 2003 after learning from Vice President Dick Cheney that Mr Bush had authorised the leaks.
The court document does not indicate whether Mr Bush or Mr Cheney told Mr Libby to unveil Ms Plame.
Mr Libby will go on trial in January 2007 on charges of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements related to the Plame affair to investigators. He denies the charges.
