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FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) - The trial of an Army private charged with sending U.S. secrets to the website WikiLeaks is being pushed back from February to March.

Military judge Col. Denise Lind announced the change Sunday at a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade for Pfc. Bradley Manning.

Manning's trial was set to begin Feb. 4. But Lind says pretrial proceedings will push the start date back to either March 8 or March 16.

The hearing is to determine whether the highly restrictive conditions Manning experienced for nine months were justified. The defense claims the restrictions were so punishing that the case should be dismissed.

Two psychiatrists have testified that the brig commander kept Manning tightly confined despite their recommendations to ease them.

The 24-year-old is charged with 22 offenses, including aiding the enemy. He could get life in prison.