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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Blair secrets leak 'risked lives' | Blair secrets leak 'risked lives' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The leaking of a secret memo detailing talks between George Bush and Tony Blair could have put lives in danger, the Old Bailey has heard. | The leaking of a secret memo detailing talks between George Bush and Tony Blair could have put lives in danger, the Old Bailey has heard. |
| Civil servant David Keogh, 50, and MP's researcher Leo O'Connor, 44, both from Northampton, deny three charges under the Official Secrets Act. | Civil servant David Keogh, 50, and MP's researcher Leo O'Connor, 44, both from Northampton, deny three charges under the Official Secrets Act. |
| Mr Blair's foreign policy adviser Sir Nigel Sheinwald said a leak would have the sparked worldwide anger. | Mr Blair's foreign policy adviser Sir Nigel Sheinwald said a leak would have the sparked worldwide anger. |
| He told the court it would have put UK forces at risk. | He told the court it would have put UK forces at risk. |
| Sir Nigel described how the leaking of such a secret and sensitive document could have damaged Britain's alliances within the world and destroyed the trust needed for governments to speak openly to each other. | |
| Mr Keogh is said to have passed the record of the meeting to researcher Mr O'Connor. | |
| 'Seriously damage relations' | |
| The contents of the memo are so sensitive that they are not being disclosed in open court and much of the trial is being held behind closed doors. | |
| David Perry QC, prosecuting, asked Sir Nigel whether the content of the four-page document had the potential to "raise international tensions". "Yes it does," he said. | |
| He also agreed it would "seriously damage relations with friendly governments" as well as threatening life and public order and the "operational effectiveness of the security of UK or allied forces". | |
| Sir Nigel said: "It was a difficult period. Those of us who were involved believed at the time that it was the most difficult period facing the coalition since the original conflict in 2003, and for a variety of reasons. | |
| 'Increased violence' | |
| "The security situation had deteriorated during the course of March and April." | |
| There were "particular concerns" about violence in Fallujah and the rest of the "Sunni triangle" as well as the militias led by Moqtada al-Sadr, he said. | |
| "The level of violence in Iraq went up considerably over that period. There was international controversy about the violence and the performance of the coalition forces at the time." | |
| There was also concern about the kidnapping of Western contractors and the decision by the Spanish to pull out. | |
| The trial continues. |