Court rules SFO unlawfully ended Saudi probe

  A court ruled on Thursday that the country's Serious Fraud  Office (SFO) acted unlawfully in  ending investigations into allegations of bribery and  corruption in arms deals with Saudi Arabia.

Two judges allowed a challenge brought by anti-arms campaigners, the Corner House Research Group and the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CATT), over the case involving Europe's biggest defence company, BAE Systems.

Then-Prime Minister Tony Blair drew widespread criticism from political opponents and the media after saying that if the SFO had proceeded with its investigation, it would damage national security.