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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning on trial | Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning on trial |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The court martial for the US soldier accused of leaking large numbers of classified documents to Wikileaks has begun in Fort Meade, Maryland. | The court martial for the US soldier accused of leaking large numbers of classified documents to Wikileaks has begun in Fort Meade, Maryland. |
| Pte Bradley Manning allegedly sent 250,000 diplomatic cables and 500,000 battlefield reports from Afghanistan and Iraq to Wikileaks in 2009 and 2010. | Pte Bradley Manning allegedly sent 250,000 diplomatic cables and 500,000 battlefield reports from Afghanistan and Iraq to Wikileaks in 2009 and 2010. |
| He has pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges against him but not to the most serious charge of aiding the enemy. | He has pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges against him but not to the most serious charge of aiding the enemy. |
| It is considered the largest-ever leak of secret US government documents. | It is considered the largest-ever leak of secret US government documents. |
| If found guilty of the more serious charges, Pte Manning, 25, faces up to life in prison. | If found guilty of the more serious charges, Pte Manning, 25, faces up to life in prison. |
| 'Bloodlust' | 'Bloodlust' |
| Pte Manning, who was arrested in May 2010 while serving in Iraq, has not denied leaking the documents. | Pte Manning, who was arrested in May 2010 while serving in Iraq, has not denied leaking the documents. |
| He told a pre-trial hearing in February he divulged the documents to spark a public debate on the role of the US military and foreign policy. | He told a pre-trial hearing in February he divulged the documents to spark a public debate on the role of the US military and foreign policy. |
| However, prosecutors arguing on behalf of the US government say the leaks damaged national security and endangered American lives. | However, prosecutors arguing on behalf of the US government say the leaks damaged national security and endangered American lives. |
| One of the leaked videos shows graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer. | One of the leaked videos shows graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer. |
| "The most alarming aspect of the video to me was the seemingly delightful bloodlust the aerial weapons team happened to have," he said at the pre-trial hearing, comparing the troops to children "torturing ants with a magnifying glass". | "The most alarming aspect of the video to me was the seemingly delightful bloodlust the aerial weapons team happened to have," he said at the pre-trial hearing, comparing the troops to children "torturing ants with a magnifying glass". |
| Other documents leaked included thousands of battlefield reports from Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as secure messages between US embassies and the state department in Washington. | |
| Dozens of witnesses are expected to testify at the trial. | Dozens of witnesses are expected to testify at the trial. |
| He will get a 112-day reduction in any jail sentence he receives after a judge ruled he had suffered unduly harsh treatment during his nine-month detention after his arrest. | He will get a 112-day reduction in any jail sentence he receives after a judge ruled he had suffered unduly harsh treatment during his nine-month detention after his arrest. |
| Hero or traitor | Hero or traitor |
| Pte Manning's lawyer David Coombs thanked supporters who had rallied outside Fort Meade ahead of his court martial. | Pte Manning's lawyer David Coombs thanked supporters who had rallied outside Fort Meade ahead of his court martial. |
| The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says some people see Pte Manning as a hero who stripped away layers of the secret state, whereas others believe he is a traitor. | The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says some people see Pte Manning as a hero who stripped away layers of the secret state, whereas others believe he is a traitor. |
| The soldier chose to have his court martial heard by a judge instead of a jury. It is expected to run all summer. | The soldier chose to have his court martial heard by a judge instead of a jury. It is expected to run all summer. |
| Judge Col Denise Lind ruled in May she would close parts of the trial to the public to protect classified material. | Judge Col Denise Lind ruled in May she would close parts of the trial to the public to protect classified material. |
| Meanwhile the UK government said on Sunday it was considering a request from Ecuador to hold talks on the future of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. | Meanwhile the UK government said on Sunday it was considering a request from Ecuador to hold talks on the future of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. |
| Mr Assange has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for a year, having been granted political asylum there. | Mr Assange has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for a year, having been granted political asylum there. |
| He faces extradition to Sweden over sex allegations, which he denies. | He faces extradition to Sweden over sex allegations, which he denies. |