BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- US soldier Bradley Manning has asked to be recognized as a woman. His announcement comes just a day after he was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the biggest leak of classified material in US history.

Manning says he wants to start hormone therapy as soon as possible. He’s asking supporters to refer to him by his new name, Chelsea, and to use the female pronoun. However, the US Army says it doesn’t provide hormone therapy or sex-reassignment surgery.

Manning’s lawyer says he will try to get the army to accommodate his client. Manning has returned to the all-male Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas to begin his sentence.

(Source: CNTV.cn)