LONDON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush wanted to bomb al-Jazeera last year, a British newspaper claims.
The Daily Mirror newspaper reported Tuesday that a British civil servant had been charged under the nation's Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking a government memo that suggested Bush wanted to bomb the headquarters of the popular and controversial al-Jazeera satellite television network in Doha, Qatar in April 2004. However, British Prime Minister Tony Blair persuaded him not to do so, the Mirror said.
The newspaper said Bush discussed targeting Al-Jazeera HQ when Blair visited him at the White House on April 16, 2004. The Bush administration has regularly accused Al-Jazeera of being a platform for anti-American sentiments.
The Daily Mirror attributed its information to unidentified sources. One source, said to be in the British government, was quoted as saying that the alleged threat was "humorous, not serious," but the newspaper also quoted another source as saying that "Bush was deadly serious, as was Blair."
Both the White House and Number 10, Downing Street have refused to comment on the report.
Al-Jazeera said in a statement that it was investigating the report. "If the report is correct then this would be both shocking and worrisome not only to Al-Jazeera but to media organizations across the world," it said.
The document was described as a transcript of a conversation between the two leaders.
David Keogh, a civil servant in the British Cabinet Office, is accused of leaking the document. He is due to appear in court in London next week.
