'Iraq leak' suspects due in court

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Two men accused of leaking details of a discussion on Iraq between US President George Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair are due to appear in court.

Ex-civil servant David Keogh and former MP's researcher Leo O'Connor have been charged under the Official Secrets Act.

Both men deny charges and their trial is expected to start at the Old Bailey this week.

Judge Mr Justice Aikens has ruled parts of the case which could have an impact on national security be held in secret.

Mr Keogh, 50, and Mr O'Connor, 43, both from Northampton, are accused of leaking a record of the April 2004 discussions in Washington between Mr Bush and Mr Blair concerning UK and US policy in Iraq.

The charges allege that Mr Keogh, who was a communications officer at the Cabinet Office, passed the memo to Mr O'Connor, who worked as a researcher for Tony Clarke, Labour MP for Northampton South, between April 15 and May 29 2004.

Mt 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 denies a charge of making a damaging disclosure of a document passed to him illegally.