中國網站品牌欄目（頻道）
The Pentagon urged news organizations on Monday not to publish classified US documents due to be released by WikiLeaks as US officials brace for a mass disclosure of leaked Iraq War files by the whistle-blower website.
WikiLeaks, which in July released some 70,000 US documents on the Afghanistan war, is expected soon to post on its website as many as 500,000 classified leaked US documents from the Iraq War. The US government in July condemned the release of the initial leaked documents, which painted a grim picture of the war in Afghanistan that began in 2001.
Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan said the US military is "absolutely" urging WikiLeaks to "return the stolen documents to the United States government and ... not publish them." Lapan also appealed to the news media.
Lapan said: "News organizations should be cautioned not to facilitate the leaking of classified documents with this disreputable organization known as WikiLeaks."
He added: "The concern is that WikiLeaks as an organization should not be made more credible by having credible news organizations facilitate what they're doing."
The Pentagon's comments came on the same day that Sweden said it denied a work and residency permit to Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks.
WikiLeaks Tweeted a response on Monday, saying: "Rather than apologizing for misleading the press, the Pentagon tries to bully it into not reporting."
Assange has been establishing a base in Sweden in order to benefit from the Nordic country's strict journalist protection laws. He is also being investigated over rape allegations in Sweden, which he has denied, calling them baseless.
Assange, an Australian citizen, can appeal the decision within three weeks. At the Pentagon, Lapan said he was not suggesting that news organizations ignore leaked documents, but questioned providing "a veneer of legitimacy to WikiLeaks" by publishing the originals.
Questions:
1. How many documents did WikiLeaks release in July?
2. What country denied Assange a work and residency permit?
3. Where is Assange a citizen?
Answers:
1. 70,000.
2. Sweden.
3. Australia.
（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
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