State Department spokesman Philip Crowley resigned Sunday after slamming the Pentagon's treatment of a US solider suspected of leaking thousands of diplomatic cables and military documents to WikiLeaks as "counter-productive."
"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," Crowley said in a statement released by the State Department.
On Friday, Crowley was asked about the United States "torturing" Private First Class Bradley Manning, who is in military detention and suspected of giving classified information to WikiLeaks which was then published in newspapers around the world.
Crowley said Manning's treatment by the Defence Department, which includes solitary confinement and being forced to sleep naked, "is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid," BBC reporter Philippa Thomas wrote on her blog.
"Nonetheless Bradley Manning is in the right place," Crowley said, adding "there is sometimes a need for secrets" to advance US diplomatic interests. Later Friday Obama insisted the Pentagon's treatment of Manning was appropriate.