10. februar 2012, 15:20 – opdateret 10. februar 2012, 15:34

It was the Ministry of Defence itself that leaked an explosive memo that could lead to disciplinary action against top military officials.

Defence Minister Nick Hækkerup has confirmed it was his close advisor, Søren Lippert, who passed information to Politiken revealing that army leaders knowingly under-estimated the number of prisoners taken by Danish troops in Iraq.

A spokesman for HOD, the army officers' union, said it was 'mysterious' why such a highly-placed ministry official would hand out such sensitive information to a newspaper, while leading political commentator, and former Conservative leader, Hans Engell, said it was 'odd' that the controversy should surface right now, just as politicians are preparing to appoint a new Chief of Defence, and Mr Hækkerup has announced plans to reorganise and reduce military leadership.

"This isn't just a coincidence," said Mr Engell. "Nobody leaks information for no reason."

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Denmark's prime minister during the Iraq War, has refused to answer questions about the affair, claiming it's 'domestic Danish politics', but said he would be willing to testify if required by an investigative commission..