Ottawa denies leak got to US via code channel

A Canadian government spokesman denied suggestions Monday that the United States had broken a secret Canadian diplomatic code and was routinely intercepting messages between Ottawa and its embassy in Washington.

But he said there had been a leak inside the government of a typed copy of a diplomatic telex message.

The Toronto Star reported Saturday that speculation about cracked codes started after an American source leaked to it a confidential Canadian document about concern in Ottawa over US plans to delay construction of antisubmarine aircraft, for which Canadian companies supply parts.