Gonzales to testify on US domestic spying programme

News last month of the covert domestic spying programme sparked an outcry by Democrats and Republicans, with many lawmakers and rights groups questioning whether it violates the US Constitution.

"One of my responsibilities as attorney general is to explain some of what the administration is doing and the reasons for, the rationale for, what the administration is doing," Gonzales told reporters.

"The president has confirmed the existence of a highly classified program," he said, referring to the domestic eavesdropping programme conducted by the National Security Agency. "Many parts of the programme still remain classified."

Gonzales said he had agreed with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, to testify in hearings on the controversial programme that eavesdrops on US phone calls and e-mails.

Gonzales said he would not discuss any operational details at the hearing and would only explain the legal justification.

The testimony will take place in Senate hearings that are expected to be held early next month.

It was unclear whether the judiciary committee would also hear testimony from senior intelligence officials such as the NSA director, Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, or Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, the No. 2 US intelligence official who ran the NSA when the eavesdropping program began.