US Army Adds 22 Charges Against Manning, Including 'Aiding the Enemy'

The US Army filed 22 additional charges Wednesday against Private Bradley Manning, the soldier suspected of leaking classified government documents to WikiLeaks. The most serious new charge, 'aiding the enemy,' carries a potential death sentence, though prosecutors stated they will not pursue capital punishment. If convicted, Manning, 23, could face life in prison.

Military authorities had already brought 12 charges against Manning in July, citing violations of federal criminal and military law. The Pentagon has stopped short of formally connecting him to WikiLeaks, but the 'aiding the enemy' charge raises the question of whether WikiLeaks could be classified as an enemy entity.

Manning worked as a junior Army intelligence analyst in Iraq. Suspicion has centered on him as the source behind the large volume of sensitive military records and diplomatic cables that WikiLeaks published over recent months, drawing strong criticism from US and Western officials.

No trial date has been scheduled. The Army said proceedings have been on hold since 12 July 2010, pending a mental competency review of Manning that his defense attorneys requested.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2011, in its own words.