Did the US plot to bomb al-Jazeera?

The story continues in European and Middle Eastern media. Both the BBC & al-Jazeera published the Arab TV station's demand of the British government to explain the leaked report that US President George Bush wanted to bomb the TV station.

According to the BBC's story, Cabinet Office civil servant David Keogh has been charged under the Official Secrets Act of passing the memo to former Labour MP Tony Clarke's researcher Leo O'Connor. Both men are due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court next week.

Last week Labour MP and former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle tabled a Commons motion calling for the memo to be made public. He accused ministers of using the Official Secrets Act to save political embarrassment rather than protect national security as it is intended.