WASHINGTON -A US appeals court has dismissed former CIA analyst Valerie Plame's lawsuit against vice-president Dick Cheney and several former Bush administration officials for disclosing her identity to the public.
The court of appeals in Washington dealt another setback to the former spy, who has said her career was destroyed when officials blew her cover in 2003 to retaliate against her husband, Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson.
Ms Plame's outing led a lengthy criminal investigation, which resulted in the conviction of Mr Cheney's top aide, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, for perjury and obstruction of justice. US president George Bush then commuted Libby's 2½-year prison sentence last year.
Ms Plame and Mr Wilson sought damages from Mr Cheney, Mr Libby, former White House aide Karl Rove and former state department official Richard Armitage for violating their free speech, due process and privacy rights.
But a three-judge panel of the appeals court ruled Mr Cheney and the others were acting in their official capacity when they revealed Ms Plame's identity. - (Reuters)