Updated - Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this evening that at a two hour meeting of the Security Committee this afternoon, he was given assurances of how the Security Service operates.

The meeting was called by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the request of Dr Busuttil after Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia admitted to having been present for interviews of people assigned to the service.

Those present for the committee meeting included the head of the Security Service Michael Cassar, Foreign Minister George Vella and Dr Mallia.

The meeting ended with a joint statement by Dr Muscat and Dr Busuttil.

Dr Busuttil said he had been able to raise his concerns and was given explanations and the assurances necessary to have confidence in the institution.

Dr Muscat said he had convened the meeting with responsibility because the concerns which Dr Busuttil had raised were legitimate and important for the country to have confidence in the Security Service.

Both leaders said they could not go into detail on what was discussed.

Dr Muscat was also asked about the Snowdon case and said Malta shared the EU's concerns and its call for an explanation from the US on spying on the EU institutions.