Private First Class Bradley Manning, 25, accused of providing diplomatic cables and other secret documents to the WikiLeaks website pleaded guilty to misusing classified material, but denied the most serious charge in the case, aiding the enemy.

Manning entered the pleas prior to his court martial, which is set to begin on June 3, in a case that centers on the biggest leak of government secrets in U.S. history.

"I believe that if the general public ... had access to the information ... this could spark a domestic debate as to the role of the military and foreign policy in general," Manning, dressed in full military uniform, testified calmly. "I felt I accomplished something that would allow me to have a clear conscience," said Manning, who spoke under oath for more than an hour.

At the hearing, Manning pleaded not guilty to the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, through his attorney. Manning, who has been jailed at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia for more than 1,000 days, could face life imprisonment if convicted of that charge.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/28/us-usa-wikileaks-manning-idUSBRE91R0T720130228