WikiLeaks soldier sent to Leavenworth

WASHINGTON -- The Army private suspected of illegally passing U.S. government secrets to the WikiLeaks website was transferred yesterday to an Army prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., from the Marine brig in Virginia where he has spent nine months.

Pfc. Bradley Manning, suspected of having obtained the classified documents while in Iraq as an Army intelligence analyst, is awaiting a decision by the Army on whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.

Shortly after the Pentagon announced its decision to transfer Manning, his lawyer, David Coombs, wrote on his blog that his client's treatment at Quantico was substandard.

He said the defense "intends to pursue redress for the flagrant violations of his constitutional rights by the Quantico confinement facility." -- AP