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Official cleared of secrets leak Official cleared of secrets leak
(11 minutes later)
A civil servant at the Foreign Office has been cleared of breaching the Official Secrets Act.A civil servant at the Foreign Office has been cleared of breaching the Official Secrets Act.
Derek Pasquill, 48, from west London, was accused at the Old Bailey of leaking confidential documents to the New Statesman and the Observer.Derek Pasquill, 48, from west London, was accused at the Old Bailey of leaking confidential documents to the New Statesman and the Observer.
The papers were said to refer to secret CIA flights and the UK's contact with Muslim groups.The papers were said to refer to secret CIA flights and the UK's contact with Muslim groups.
His lawyer said a prosecution decision to drop charges was "vindication" that what he did was not "damaging". His lawyer said a prosecution decision to drop charges was "vindication" that what he did was in the public interest.
Julian Knowles said the disclosure of the documents was in the public interest as it concerned debates on engaging with radical Islam and the practice of "extraordinary rendition" - the US transportation of terror suspects to secret prisons. 'Vindicated'
Julian Knowles said the disclosure of the documents was not "damaging" as it concerned public debates on engaging with radical Islam and the practice of "extraordinary rendition" - the US transportation of terror suspects to secret prisons.
The judge was told internal Foreign Office documents disclosed as part of the legal process would have undermined the prosecution case.The judge was told internal Foreign Office documents disclosed as part of the legal process would have undermined the prosecution case.
Mr Pasquill said he had been through a "very unpleasant ordeal" but that he had been "completely vindicated in my actions in exposing dangerous government policy and changing its priorities".
New Statesman editor John Kampfner described Mr Pasquill's prosecution as a "misguided and malicious move".New Statesman editor John Kampfner described Mr Pasquill's prosecution as a "misguided and malicious move".
He said a number of government ministers had "privately acknowledged" that the information provided by Mr Pasquill had been "in the public interest and was responsible in large part for changing government policy for the good".He said a number of government ministers had "privately acknowledged" that the information provided by Mr Pasquill had been "in the public interest and was responsible in large part for changing government policy for the good".