Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning to get reduced sentence

Alleged Wikileaks source Bradley Manning will have 112 days taken off his sentence if he is convicted, a US military judge has ruled.

The judge said at a pre-trial hearing that Pfc Manning had suffered illegal punishment during his nine-month detention after his arrest in 2010.

The 25-year-old was held for 23 hours a day in a windowless cell.

Pfc Manning wants charges for giving secret files to the Wikileaks website to be dropped because of his ordeal.

In all, the former intelligence analysts faces 22 charges, including aiding the enemy. If convicted, he could be jailed for life.

His trial is expected to start on 6 March.

The judge granted 20 days credit in exchange for guards continuing to remove Pfc Manning's underwear at night and 10 days for denying him exercise, the Pentagon said.

Pfc Manning has offered to take responsibility for leaking more than 250,000 diplomatic cables and classified files to Wikileaks.

But the government is still planning to prosecute him on all 22 charges.

"The charges are serious in this case," said Judge Lind.