Paper: Brit Commander's Aide Faces Charges

LONDON -- An aide to the commander of British forces in Afghanistan faces charges of divulging official secrets for allegedly passing confidential information to Iran, two British newspapers reported Thursday.

The Daily Telegraph and the Times reported that the man, Daniel James, is a corporal in the British Army, and had acted as translator for Gen. David Richards, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Charges against James were heard in a London court Wednesday, but the bulk of proceedings were closed to the media. London police refused to comment Thursday on the information reported by the newspapers; the NATO spokesman in Kabul, Maj. Dominic Whyte, referred questions to British police.

James, 44, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during his brief appearance Wednesday at a magistrates court. He did not ask for bail and returns to court Dec. 27.

The charge against him alleges that on Nov. 2 James "communicated to another person information calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy."

The Times said "the soldier was charged in relation to the passing of confidential information about British activities in Afghanistan to Iran."