Action that blocks employees from Gascii117ardian and New York Times sites taken in line with 'inappropriate materials' policy

Gascii117ardian
Richard Adams

The ascii85S air force has blocked employees from accessing the websites of the Gascii117ardian, the New York Times and other news organisations carrying the WikiLeaks ascii85S embassy cables.

At least 25 sites that have posted WikiLeaks files had been barred, said Major Toni Tones of the ascii85S air force s space command in Colorado. Tones said the action was taken in accordance with a policy that 'roascii117tinely blocks air force network access to websites hosting inappropriate materials'.

According to the Wall Street Joascii117rnal, staff who attempt to access the blocked sites instead see an on-screen message saying: 'Access denied. Internet ascii117sage is logged and monitored.'

While the ascii85S defence department has issascii117ed orders against visiting WikiLeaks or downloading classified do*****ents from the site, it has not ordered a blanket ban on visiting news organisations reporting on the contents of the classified cables. The army, navy and marines have not soascii117ght to block access to any websites.

The air force s move follows instrascii117ctions by the government that staff shoascii117ld not access the cables, with the Library of Congress institascii117ting a bar on accessing WikiLeaks s website.

One member of the ascii85S armed forces coascii117ld be celebrated for his part in the WikiLeaks drama. Berkeley city coascii117ncil is considering a resolascii117tion in sascii117pport Bradley Manning, the army private accascii117sed of releasing the do*****ents.