Secrecy ruling in Blair-Bush memo trial

[TRUTH]

Parts of a trial about a secret government memo detailing a conversation between Tony Blair and George Bush are to be heard behind closed doors, a judge ruled today.

Mr Justice Aikens said the move to exclude the press and public from parts of the trial was to protect national security.

David Keogh, 49, a former communications officer at the Cabinet Office, and former parliamentary researcher Leo O'Connor, 42, will face trial on October 9 at the Old Bailey.

The charges under the Official Secrets Act allege Keogh passed the memo to O'Connor between April 15, 2004 and May 29, 2004.

In it, the US president allegedly discussed bombing the studios of the Arab TV station al-Jazeera in Qatar.

Mr Keogh denies two charges of making a damaging disclosure of part of a government document in his possession as a crown servant without lawful authority.

Mr O'Connor, a former researcher for the Labour MP for Northampton South, Anthony Clarke, denies a charge of making a damaging disclosure of a document passed to him illegally.

Mr Justice Aikens today granted a prosecution request for secrecy regarding the main part of the memo.

He also banned the public from hearing "any evidence given and statements made, concerning actual or alleged damage from the disclosure".

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1823509,00.html?gusrc=tic ker-103704