Activists mark Manning's 1,000th day behind bars

In more than 70 cities and other locations, his supporters gathered to mark the 1,000th day of Private Manning's imprisonment without trial.

Among the protests was a demonstration in Yorkshire, outside the US electronic eavesdropping centre at Menwith Hill.

The centre, which employs more than 1,000 US military and civilian staff, is part of a satellite-linked network gathering military, political and economic information which is fed back to the US.

Nominally named RAF Menwith Hill, the base is run by the US's National Security Agency.

The demonstration there was organised by the Yorkshire-based Campaign for Accountability of American bases.

Campaign joint co-ordinator Lindis Percy, who has been arrested hundreds of times for actions at Menwith Hill and other bases, was among those at the facility on Saturday.

In the US there is growing public awareness of Pte Manning's case and an extensive support network has built up.

Pte Manning allegedly leaked hundreds of thousands of documents, cables and images about US military and political activity.

Among the secrets said to have been exposed by the former military intelligence analyst were orders from Hilary Clinton to spy on United Nations diplomats, which is illegal under international law.

A video was also released to WikiLeaks showing a US helicopter gunship in Iraq opening fire on civilians, injuring two children and killing their father.

If found guilty of the 22 charges, which include leaking information helpful to an enemy, 25-year-old Pte Manning could face a lifetime in military custody.

His lawyers say he has already been driven to near-suicide by his imprisonment and treatment at the hands of the US military.

Bradley Manning Support Network's Jeff Patterson said: "A heroic young man faces life in prison for exposing the truth."

In addition to the demonstration at Menwith Hill, on Saturday there were protests in Australia, Germany, France, South Korea, Belgium and from coast to coast in the US.