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In one office, the unpaid costs for wire taps came to $66,000
The FBI has had some of its telephone wiretaps disconnected because it failed to pay its bills on time, a US government audit has found.

The Department of Justice said some of the agency's surveillance operations had been jeopardised by late payments and an "antiquated" accounting system.

The audit also revealed an FBI employee had admitted stealing $25,000 (£12,745) intended for undercover phone services.

The FBI said the operations in question had not been significantly affected.

In August, President George W Bush updated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to allow the tapping without warrants of telephone calls and e-mails routed through the US.
Previously the government had to seek approval from a special court in advance.