Two Appear in Court Over Leaked Bush Memo

Two men appeared in court today charged with violating the Official Secrets Act over the leak of a document that reportedly detailed a private conversation between George Bush and Tony Blair where they allegedly discussed bombing al-Jazeera TV.

Former parliamentary researcher Leo O'Connor pleaded not guilty to "receiving a document through its disclosure without lawful authority from a crown servant".

David Keogh, a former cabinet office communications officer, did not make any plea. He is charged with "making a damaging disclosure of a document relating to international relations without lawful authority".

The offences are alleged to have taken place between April 16 and May 28 2004.

Speaking outside Bow Street magistrates court in London, Neil Clark, the lawyer defending Mr O'Connor, said his client was shocked when he learned he was to be prosecuted, more than a year after he was first arrested.

The charges are allegedly related to a memo of a conversation between Tony Blair and George Bush in April last year in the course of which the president is reported to have suggested bombing the headquarters in Qatar of the Arabic TV station al-Jazeera.

The two men were arrested in April 2004 but only charged on November 17 this year. Asked outside the court about the delay, Mr Clark yesterday pointed out that any prosecution under the secrets act needed the consent of the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith.

Prosecutor Rosemary Fernandes asked the court to remand the two men on bail on condition that they do not have any direct or indirect contact with each other and that neither leaves the country.

Mr O'Connor is a former parliamentary researcher for ex-Labour MP Tony Clarke and allegedly gave the memo to his former boss. Mr Clarke says he returned it to Downing Street.

The pair will reappear at Bow Street on January 10 for a committal hearing.

The Daily Mirror, citing unidentified sources, claimed the document reveals that Mr Blair argued against Mr Bush's suggestion of bombing al-Jazeera's headquarters in Doha, Qatar. The newspaper said its sources disagreed over whether it was a serious suggestion.

In a written parliamentary question, last week, Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price asked Mr Blair "what information you received on action that the United States administration proposed to take against the al-Jazeera television channel".

The prime minister replied: "None."

White House spokesman Scott McClellan called the newspaper's claims "outlandish and inconceivable".

The attorney general, Lord Goldsmith has warned media outlets not to publish the memo's contents, citing the Official Secrets Act.