WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A soldier suspected of providing classified documents to the Web site WikiLeaks will be evaluated by a mental health panel, a U.S. Army spokesman said.

The spokesman, Lt. Col. Robert Manning, said the Army is assembling a special "706 board" to decide whether Pfc. Bradley Manning is fit to stand trial, The Washington Times reported Tuesday.


The Army's Manual for Courts-Martial says the board must answer two questions concerning Pfc. Manning's state of mind and mental competence.

"Was the accused suffering from a mental disease that made him unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct?" the manual says. "Is the accused mentally competent to stand trial?"

Lt. Col. Manning said once the board determines the soldier's fitness, the Army can move forward with the Uniform Code of Military Justice process.

Pfc. Manning has been held in solitary confinement in the brig at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia since July.

The defense requested the fitness evaluation.