Bradley Manning supporters protest for his release

FORT MEADE, Md.Supporters of an Army private who sent troves of classified U.S. documents to WikiLeaks held a protest march and rally outside Maryland's Fort Meade ahead of Pfc. Bradley Manning's court-martial.

Members of the Bradley Manning Support Network and others gathered Saturday near Fort Meade's main gate. They marched about a mile south along US 175.

Protesters carried signs, some reading "Free Bradley" and "Bradley Manning: Jailed for exposing war crimes."

Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers, was among those showing support.

Manning's trial is to begin Monday. The 25-year-old Oklahoma native is charged with indirectly aiding the enemy by sending classified material to WikiLeaks. Manning has said he wanted the public to know how the American military was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan with little regard for human life.

In a surprise in February, Manning pleaded guilty to ten criminal counts related to his case.

However, despite pleading guilty to some of the charges, Manning still faces a court martial and possible life sentence for allegedly aiding the enemy.

Prosecution attorneys have said they intend to show that some of the leaked documents were found by Navy SEALs in their raid on Osama bin Laden's hideout. According to a military attorney, the prosecution does not have to prove Manning intended for the documents to end up in enemy hands -- only that he knew it might happen.

Manning testified that no one at WikiLeaks pressured him for more documents and that he knew what he did was wrong.