The three journalists accused of illegally publishing governmental secrets regarding Denmark’s stance on Iraq have been acquitted today by a Danish Court.

The Editor-in-Chief of Berlingske Tidende, Niels Lunde, and reporters Jesper Larsen and Michael Bjerre Rasmussen faced prison sentences from six months to two years for their 2004 stories that discussed the Danish government’s stance on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Danish intelligence agent, Frank Grevil, served four months in jail for passing the journalists the information.

"This verdict is a victory for press freedom, for the public interest and for the media's role as watchdog over governments and their agencies," said Timothy Balding, Chief Executive Officer of the Paris-based WAN, who testified at the trial as an expert witness for the defense.

Many witnesses including Mr. Balding testified that the information was “of high public interest” and therefore relevant news by informing Danish citizens on their involvement in the War.

Source:World Association of Newspapers