East Anglia investigation begins

The official British investigation of the hacking of emails and docs from University of East Anglia begins. Leading the probe: a senior British civil servant with some background in science and no previous connection to the university or global warming research.

Meanwhile the chief climate negotiator from Saudi Arabia says the hacking will have a huge effect on the Copenhagen climate talks. Suspect Saudi has some vested interest in rapid use of crude oil?

The East Anglia investigation is due to be completed in spring, 2010, and will look at the hacked docs, the research methods at the university and review of research findings there.

There is no indication of any criminal investigation into the hacking.