LONDON – Two men pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of making a damaging disclosure by leaking a memo which included references to U.S. President George W. Bush talking of bombing Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera.
David Keogh, 49, a former Cabinet Office spokesman, and Leo O'Connor, 42, a former researcher for a lawmaker, were released on bail after appearing at the Central Criminal Court.
Their trial was set for Oct. 9.
Keogh faces two charges of violating the Official Secrets Act and O'Connor faces a single charge.
The Daily Mirror newspaper reported that the memo revealed details of a conversation between Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the White House on April 16, 2004.
According to the newspaper, Blair argued against Bush's suggestion of bombing Al-Jazeera's headquarters in Doha, Qatar. The Daily Mirror said its sources disagreed on whether Bush's suggestion was serious.
Blair has said he had no information about any proposed U.S. action against Al-Jazeera, and the White House called the claims "outlandish and inconceivable."
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