Minister denies murdered journalist was British spy

MARK LENNOX-BOYD, the Foreign Office minister, last night denied the Government was trying to hide the truth about the death of Jonathan Moyle, a British journalist, in Chile two years ago. The minister denied allegations that the journalist was murdered because he was working for the intelligence services. He said a Foreign Office investigation had found no evidence linking Mr Moyle's death with illegal arms deals between Britain and Iraq.

Mr Moyle, editor of a defence magazine, was found dead in a hotel room in Santiago in March 1990. Chilean police initially said he had hanged himself but a later inquiry found he had been murdered. Speaking on BBC television's Newsnight last night, Mr Lennox-Boyd said: 'All I know is he (Mr Moyle) had been a serving RAF officer but he was never employed by the intelligence services.' When pressed, he said Mr Moyle 'was never working or employed by the intelligence services.' He said he could not say any more.

Friends of the journalist believe he was murdered because he was working on a story about the sale of Western arms to Iraq via Chile.

The minister denied there was any evidence to connect the death with the arms to Iraq trade. The Foreign Office would make any relevant papers available to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry into UK arms deals with Iraq, he said. The Foreign Office was accused of covering up the death following a meeting between Mr Lennox-Boyd and Mr Moyle's father, Tony. Mr Moyle asked for more help in solving the mystery of his son's death. He was accompanied by the family's lawyer in Chile, Mr Jorge Trivino.

After the hour-long meeting at the Foreign Office, Mr Moyle said: 'I was very disappointed with the meeting with Mr Lennox-Boyd. To me, he was less than convincing. Basically, I think there is a cover-up and I have not heard anything today which changes my mind.'

He said the investigation by the Chilean police homicide department should be reopened.