US spokesman Phillip Crowley resigns over comment on WikiLeaks source

Washington: Senior state department functionary and spokesman, Philip J Crowley, has resigned over controversial comments he made about the US Army's treatment of alleged WikiLeaks source army soldier Pfc Bradley Manning. Crowley's caustic comments that the army's treatment of Manning was "ridiculous and counter-productive and stupid" were made at a seminar at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The American soldier is suspected of leaking diplomatic cables to whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

Secretary of state Hillary Clinton said in a statement Sunday: "It is with regret that I have accepted the resignation of Philip J Crowley as assistant secretary of state for public affairs."

Private Manning is being held in solitary confinement at the US Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Virginia.

As assistant secretary for public affairs Crowley has been conducting the daily briefs on behalf of secretary of state Hillary Clinton. A retired Air Force colonel, he has served on the National Security Council staff under former president Bill Clinton.

In his statement regarding his resignation, Crowley said, "My recent comments regarding the conditions of the pre-trial detention of private first class Bradley Manning were intended to highlight the broader, even strategic impact of discreet actions undertaken by national security agencies every day and their impact on our global standing and leadership," he wrote. "Given the impact of my remarks, for which I take full responsibility, I have submitted my resignation as assistant secretary for public affairs and spokesman for the department of state."