BBC News

9 October 2006 

A pre-trial hearing of the case of two men accused of leaking details between world leaders has been held in private at the Old Bailey.David Keogh and Leo O'Connor, both from Northampton, have been charged under the Official Secrets Act. It is alleged that Mr Keogh passed a memo of a meeting between US President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to Mr O'Connor.

Both men deny the charges and the trial will take place on April 18 next year.

Mr Justice Aikens ordered that the preparatory session was held in camera following his earlier ruling that the press and public should not hear parts of the case which could affect national security.

Ex-civil servant Mr Keogh and former MP's researcher Mr O'Connor have been charged in relation to an April 2004 discussion in Washington DC concerning UK and US policy in Iraq.

Mr Keogh, 49, a former communications officer at the Cabinet Office, and Mr O'Connor, 42, will face trial at the Old Bailey.

The charges allege that Mr Keogh passed the memo to Mr O'Connor between April 15, 2004 and May 29, 2004.

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.