British soldier accused of passing secrets: Media

LONDON, Dec 21: A British soldier has appeared in court accused of divulging secret information, newspapers reported today, with the Times saying the charges related to information on Afghanistan passed to Iran.

The Daily Telegraph said Daniel James had communicated with a ''foreign power'' believed to be Iran.

The newspaper, which did not give a source for its information, said it had learned he acted as an interpreter for NATO's commander in Afghanistan, British General David Richards.

The Daily Telegraph said James was of Iranian descent and spoke fluent Pashtun, the main language in Afghanistan.

The Times said James, whom it described as a non-commissioned officer, was charged with passing secret information linked to the military campaign in Afghanistan to neighbouring Iran. The newspaper did not give a source.

The Crown Prosecution Service was not immediately available for comment. The Defence Ministry was unable to comment, a spokesman said.

The 44-year-old James appeared at a London magistrates court yesterday charged under the Official Secrets Act, the newspapers said.

They said the full charge was that for a purpose prejudicial to the safety of the state, he ''communicated to another person information calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy''.

Journalists were told to leave the court room for the majority of the hearing without learning further details due to the sensitive nature of the allegations, the newspapers said.

After the closed hearing, Senior District Judge Timothy Workman was quoted as saying the prosecution had asked for a remand to obtain the attorney general's consent to go ahead with the case.

James was remanded in custody for a week and there was no application for bail.

British police said on Tuesday a man would appear in court on Wednesday charged under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act. This covers anyone who has been a member of the security and intelligence services or who is bound by the relevant provisions.

REUTERS