Bradley Manning to be moved to Fort Leavenworth prison after criticism*
Richard Adams
Tuesday 19 April 2011 21.27 BST
guardian.co.uk
Bradley Manning, accused of leaking classified material, is to be moved after international condemnation of his treatment
Bradley Manning is held alone in a maximum security cell 23 hours a day,
and checked every five minutes day and night. Photograph: AP
Bradley Manning, the soldier being held on suspicion of leaking classified material to Wikileaks, is being moved to a different prison after what the Associated Press describes as "international criticism about his treatment".
Manning had been held at the brig of the US Marine base in Quantico, in Virginia, since July last year in conditions that have been described as "inhumane", while Amnesty International has said that Manning's treatment potentially violates his human rights.
At times during his solitary confinement in Quantico, Manning has been labeled a suicide risk, kept under close watch and has at times been forced to strip naked at night.
According to the AP report, Manning is being moved to Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas:
The officials say an announcement that Army Pfc. Bradley Manning will be moved is expected Wednesday at the Pentagon. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not yet been made public.
In January, Manning's lawyer made a formal protest at his treatment, saying that holding him in maximum security custody for five months and placing him on suicide watch amounted to abuse.
Manning was arrested in May 2010 on suspicion of having passed restricted material to WikiLeaks, and later charged with transferring classified data and national security information to unauthorised sources.
Fort Leavenworth's military corrections complex houses the United States Disciplinary Barracks, the US army's maximum security prison, and the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility, where Manning is thought most likely to be held while awaiting trail.
* Url:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2011/apr/19/bradley-manning-wikileaks-leavenworth-prison
