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Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger defends 'patriotic' staff

Just 1% of the intelligence files leaked by Edward Snowden have been published by The Guardian, its editor has told MPs. Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, Alan Rusbridger said Mr Snowden had handed over 58,000 files.

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Alan Rusbridger defends 'patriotic' Guardian staff

Just 1% of the intelligence files leaked by Edward Snowden have been published by The Guardian its editor has told MPs.

Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, Alan Rusbridger said Mr Snowden, a former contractor with the National Security Agency (NSA) handed over 58,000 files.

He said the files were distributed across four continents to different organisations, and added: "That's the hand of cards we were all dealt - The Guardian, security services and governments."

Guardian Editor Alan Rusbridger speaking to MPs.

But in a heated evidence session, Mr Rusbridger described himself and his colleagues at The Guardian as "patriots" after he was asked by Committee chairman Keith Vaz MP if he "loved this country".

Mr Rusbridger was also forced to defended himself when Conservative MP Michael Ellis asked him, "if you'd known about the Enigma code during World War Two would you have transmitted that information to the Nazis?"

The editor called the reference a "World War red herring."

ITV News Political Editor Tom Bradby has described the questioning by MPs as, "often cringeworthy."

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