Dutch NATO official recalled from U.S. for security reasons

BRUSSELS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch secret service, the AIVD, has confirmed that it has withdrawn the security clearance of a Dutch NATO employee based in the United States, Radio Netherlands reported on Thursday.

An investigation by the AIVD revealed that the senior official was "vulnerable" and possibly open to blackmail, said Radio Netherlands.

The official worked at NATO's Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. The command is in charge of the modernization of the 28-nation alliance.

The official has appealed against the AIVD's decision.

Radio Netherlands did not reveal the name of the official.