TV report ruled not defamatory

Wednesday, January 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- An Oklahoma City television station has been cleared of charges it defamed a man identified as a possible suspect in the Oklahoma City bombing. U-S District Judge Timothy Leonard dismissed Al-Hussaini Hussain's defamation claim against K-F-O-R T-V in an order unsealed yesterday.

Hussain's claims that his privacy was invaded and the station intentionally inflicted emotional distress are still pending. Leonard ruled K-F-O-R reporters did not name Hussain in their news reports and the station digitally concealed his face in videotapes it aired. Hussain appeared on other television stations where he identified himself as the subject of K-F-O-R's news reports and professed his innocence.

Law enforcement officials never found credible evidence to link Hussain to the bombing of the Alfred P- Murrah Federal Building on April 19th, 1995 which killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.