Al Jazeera Memo update

The Guardian reports that a High Court application to allow the case for publication of the 'Al Jazeera Memo' to be heard in public has been rejected:

"The public must be prevented from learning the contents of a conversation between Tony Blair and President George Bush about the conduct of the war in Iraq - crucial evidence in a forthcoming official secrets trial - an Old Bailey judge ruled yesterday.

Any discussion of an already partially leaked document - in which Mr Bush purportedly said in April 2004 that he wanted to bomb the Arabic satellite TV station al-Jazeera, and Mr Blair expressed concern about US military tactics in the Iraqi city of Falluja - must be heard behind closed doors, Mr Justice Aikens ruled. He also banned the public and the media from hearing the prosecution's arguments on the grounds of national security."

And the real reason? :

"Defence lawyers who have seen the four-page document argue that its contents are at most embarrassing."

We can't have The UK Prime minister and the US President being embarassed now can we? After all that's what the Official Secrets Act was designed to prevent wasn't it?

See here for information on attempts obtain information under both the UK and US freedom of information legislation

Tags: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Memo, Iraq, War on terror, FOIA