MI6 chief's beach pics on Facebook 'no state secret', says UK Foreign Secretary

London, July 6 (ANI): Reacting on the headlines grabbed by new MI6 head Sir John Sawers' photographs, which appeared on Facebook, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that it is "not a state secret" that the spy chief wears Speedos.

John's wife Shelley Sawers had posted beach photos of her husband on facebook site the day after he was appointment head of MI6.

Information on her profile revealed the couple's friendships with actors Moir Leslie and Alister Cameron.

According to The Mail, Shelley had disclosed details on Facebook, including the location of the London flat used by the couple and the whereabouts of their three children and of Sir John's parents.

Senior politicians said that the security lapse raised concerns about John's ability to take up his post as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service this November, giving him responsibility for Britain's overseas spying operations.

However, while talking on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, Miliband dismissed allegations of recklessness and asked people to "grow up".

He said that John was an "outstanding professional", and denied that the details on the social networking website, which have since been removed, would compromise his career.

"What are you leading the news with that... The fact that there's a picture that the head of the MI6 goes swimming. Wow that really is exciting," the Telegraph quoted Miliband as saying.

"It is not a state secret that he wears Speedo swimming trunks, for goodness sake let's grow up.

"This allegation that there's great secrets and then you find out it's about his swimming trunks and the fact that his family's getting dragged into it.

"He was appointed 10 days ago to be the head of MI6; he's an outstanding professional who will do a really good job in an outstanding organisation that does a huge amount for this country.

"The newspapers have gone on to Facebook and got pictures of him in his swimming trunks - the fact that you're leading on it when we've got Iran, Afghanistan and the other issues,' he added.

Sir John Major, the former Conservative Prime Minister, said that the issue had been "overblown". (ANI)