Bradley Manning's superiors due to take the stand in WikiLeaks court-martial

Bradley Manning (AP)

The court-martial of Bradley Manning, the US soldier accused of passing US secrets to WikiLeaks in the biggest leak of classified information in US history, continues today, when his immediate superiors are due to take the stand.

Manning, a 25-year-old private first class, is charged with providing more than 700,000 documents to WikiLeaks, an anti-secrecy website, in a case that has raised questions about the limits of secrecy and openness in the Internet era.

WikiLeaks began exposing the US government secrets in 2010, stunning diplomats and US officials, who accused Manning of endangering lives and damaging sensitive diplomacy. Manning has been in confinement since he was arrested in May 2010.

In opening arguments of the trial, which began on Monday, prosecutors argued that Manning had been driven by arrogance. But lawyers for Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, portrayed him as naive but well intentioned in wanting to show the American public the reality of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Manning could be sentenced to life in prison without parole if convicted. He faces 21 charges, including the most serious one of aiding the enemy, and prosecution under the Espionage Act of 1917.

Witnesses due to testify today are enlisted personnel who oversaw Manning. The trial is expected to run until at least late August.

Reuters