Former US ambassador Joseph Wilson has called for a top White House official to be fired over the CIA leak scandal. Wilson's wife's identity as a CIA agent was revealed to the media shortly after he accused the Bush administration of twisting intelligence to support the war in Iraq.

The ex-diplamat claims White House aide Karl Rove deliberately leaked his wife's name in an attempt to undermine his credibility. "If the Republican Party wants to believe that leaking the identity of clandestine officers or violating the national security of this country is okay then that's their problem," said Wilson. "I don't believe Mr. Rove should not be permitted to resign, I believe that this is a firing offence, to be so cavalier in the handling of the secrets of this great nation, really is an abuse of the public trust."

The scandal has thrown the Bush administration into crisis and led to the indictment of one of its senior members on charges including perjury and obstruction of justice.

Rove remains under investigation. He has received backing from the White House which says he will continue in his duties as deputy chief of staff.

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Joseph Wilson, the former US diplomat mired in the CIA leak case. (AFP)