There has been wide criticism of the conditions of Manning's confinement A US Army analyst suspected of leaking government secrets is set to make his first military court appearance.
Bradley Manning faces charges of obtaining and distributing government secrets - which he allegedly leaked to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks.The Article 32 hearing will determine whether Pte Manning is to stand trial and is the first opportunity for his defence team to present their case.
Pte Manning was arrested in Iraq in May 2010 and is held in military custody.
The hearing is taking place under tight security at an army base in Maryland.
During the Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a pre-trial hearing, both prosecuting and defence lawyers will make their initial cases and are permitted to cross-examine witnesses.
Proceedings are expected to last around five days, after which recommendations will be made to a military general, who will decide whether to proceed to a full trial, according to his lawyer, David Coombs.
Confinement Pte Manning has also been charged with "aiding the enemy", a charge that could carry the death penalty. However, reports say prosecutors will only seek a prison sentence.
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To some Bradley Manning is a hero, to others a villain.
Many in America will feel, if he is guilty, it is quite clear that he is a traitor who has broken his vows to his country and deserves harsh punishment. Some have even said what he and Wikileaks have done amounts to terrorism.
The defence may choose to paint a picture of a disturbed young man, sensitive and gay adrift in a macho culture. They are likely to bring up allegations that he has been subjected to deliberately punitive detention in a military brig.
There is a suggestion that they will focus on arguing the release of the material didn't do much harm.
Analysis
Many in America will feel, if he is guilty, it is quite clear that he is a traitor who has broken his vows to his country and deserves harsh punishment. Some have even said what he and Wikileaks have done amounts to terrorism.
The defence may choose to paint a picture of a disturbed young man, sensitive and gay adrift in a macho culture. They are likely to bring up allegations that he has been subjected to deliberately punitive detention in a military brig.
There is a suggestion that they will focus on arguing the release of the material didn't do much harm.
He is accused of the unauthorised possession and distribution of more than 720,000 secret diplomatic and military documents.
"If it is the case that Bradley Manning is indeed the source of this and other Wikileaks materials, Manning would have singlehandedly changed hundreds of thousands of people's lives for the better," Wikileaks said in a statement."This material has contributed to ending dictatorships in the Middle East, it has exposed torture and wrongdoing in all the corners of the world and it has held diplomatic bodies and politicians accountable for the words, deals and pacts held behind close doors," Wikileaks said.
Pte Manning was arrested after a computer hacker went to US authorities with details of an online exchange he had with Pte Manning in which he allegedly confessed to the data theft.
The conditions of Pte Manning's confinement since his arrest have been the subject of criticism.
State department spokesman PJ Crowley resigned after publicly criticising the detention conditions of Pte Manning, and British politicians have also spoken out on the subject.
Pte Manning was brought to the maximum security prison at Quantico in July 2010, where he was held in isolation and was reported to have had his clothing removed at night as a suicide-prevention measure.
But in April 2011 Pte Manning was moved to a lower security prison at Fort Leavenworth, where his lawyers say conditions are better.
Friday's hearing, at Fort Meade in Maryland, is open to members of the public, who can queue up at the base to get in.
It is first chance for journalists to see Bradley Manning since he was taken into custody 19 months ago, says the BBC's Steve Kingstone.
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