US 'struggling to find evidence against Assange'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/27/3122558.htm



US 'struggling to find evidence against Assange'

Posted Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:33am AEDT


Military authorities are struggling to prove a link between a US army private suspected of passing on secret government files and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, NBC News reported.

Investigators have concluded that Private Bradley Manning illegally leaked tens of thousands of secret documents but have yet to come up with solid evidence that he gave the files to Mr Assange or had direct contact with the WikiLeaks chief, NBC reported, citing unnamed military officials.

The Pentagon could not confirm the report and spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said officials could not publicly discuss an "ongoing investigation".

Mr Assange, who is free on bail in Britain while fighting extradition to Sweden for questioning in a sex case, has said he never heard of Manning before his name appeared in the press and did not encourage him to leak the documents.

His WikiLeaks website has published a massive trove of secret US government documents in recent months that have infuriated and embarrassed the United States and its allies, with American officials exploring a possible legal case against Mr Assange.

But if authorities fail to establish a connection between Manning and the controversial WikiLeaks chief, it would represent a major legal victory for Mr Assange.

Such a result likely would leave him free from the threat of possible criminal prosecution in US courts, dealing him a propaganda coup in his war of words with a US administration that has labelled him a "high-tech terrorist'.

Manning link

WikiLeaks has yet to reveal the source of the document dump, but speculation has remained focused on Manning, who worked as a low-ranking army intelligence analyst in Iraq.

Manning was arrested in May and US authorities have yet to say when he will be put on trial on charges of violating federal and military law.

The soldier has been held in solitary confinement at a military brig at the Quantico Marine base since July, prompting accusations from his lawyer and supporters that he is suffering from "inhumane treatment".

A military spokesman on Tuesday confirmed that Manning had been placed on suicide watch for two days last week at the prison, allowing authorities to impose even stricter conditions.

First Lieutenant Brian Villiard told AFP he could not discuss why the brig commander had decided to put Manning on suicide watch and why it had been lifted two days later.

"This is something that's under constant review," he said.

NBC, citing military officials, reported that Manning was placed on suicide watch after he allegedly failed to follow orders from Marine guards and that the brig commander had overstepped his authority as the decision was up to medical professionals.

But Lt Villiard said the brig commander had ultimate authority over detention conditions and that he was not bound to follow the advice of mental health advisers or other medical personnel.

"He is the one that is tasked with the welfare of the detainees in the brig," the spokesman said.

Despite demands from rights groups to lift Manning's solitary confinement, Lt Villiard said the accused is being treated in the same way as other inmates under a "maximum custody" regime.

Under the strict rules, Manning is allowed out of his cell for only one hour a day, for exercise outside or at an indoor gym.

- AFP Tweet