Wikileaks expose: Antony asks people to exercise caution

"Only thing is, my own feeling, however friendly a country is, our people should always be careful in dealing with foreign countries," he said while talking to reporters on sidelines of 61st annual parade of the Territorial Army here.

Replying to questions, he said, "I cannot say anything about its (WikiLeaks expose's) authenticity."

Asked if the issue was discussed in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting yesterday, Antony said, "We have a convention that what ever happen in CCS, we do not brief. So, I am not in position to react to that."

Revelations made by Wikileaks through leaked American diplomatic cables yesterday stirred a political storm as they suggested that some of the opposition MPs were allegedly paid money to vote in favour of the UPA government in 2008 during a trust vote.

On opposition parties' assertion that the onus was on the Government to run the Parliament, the Defence Minister said, "Our head of the House Pranab Mukherjee has already given an explanation yesterday. I don't want to add anything more. If anything has to be added that will be explained in Parliament."

On the progress in the trials of M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, Antony said, "Trials are going on. Lots of procedures have to be completed. Nothing can be said now."

The deal to procure 145 ULHs from the US had hit a roadblock after the Defence Ministry received a leaked trial report about the guns.