WASHINGTON (AFP) - Was it a murky Washington conspiracy, or just a technical glitch?

American fans of hit political drama House Of Cards got an unexpected sneak peak of the show's third season Wednesday, when Netflix mistakenly posted the latest instalments online.

For about a half hour, fans could inexplicably stream the new episodes, weeks ahead of their scheduled release date.

Predictably, Twitter was flooded with postings from delighted fans.

"GO HOME: #HouseOfCards season 3 is on Netflix right now," wrote one user, #erinruberry.

Adding a layer of intrigue, House Of Cards hinted on its own Twitter account that wider forces were at work.

"This is Washington. There's always a leak. All 13 episodes will launch February 27," the @Houseofcards account wrote.

Netflix, however, said the show was made available "due to a technical glitch."

The award-winning show features Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood, a ruthless politician who will stop at nothing to have his way.

The show is based on a British miniseries of the same name set in post-Margaret Thatcher Westminster, the heart of political intrigue in London.