Uncle says Private Bradley Manning is 'a hero'

Private Bradley Manning, the US soldier convicted of handing secret government documents to anti-secrecy website Wikileaks, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

The 25-year-old was convicted in July of 20 charges against him, including espionage.

The judge also told him he would be dishonourably discharged from the US Army and forfeit some of his pay.

Kevin Fox, Bradley Manning's uncle, said he was pleased the sentence was not as high as expected. He added his nephew was ''a hero'' in his eyes.