In court, Bradley Manning read a statement explaining his actions

The US soldier accused of leaking large numbers of secret documents to Wikileaks has pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges against him.

But Pfc Bradley Manning, 25, denied the most serious charge against him, aiding the enemy, and may still be prosecuted.

A military judge later accepted the guilty pleas, with which he could face up to 20 years in prison.

On Thursday, Pfc Manning told a court he divulged the documents to spark public debate about US actions.

At the military court in Fort Meade, Maryland, Judge Col Denise Lind accepted Pfc Manning's guilty pleas, but prosecutors can still pursue a trial on the remaining 12 charges, including aiding the enemy.

That charge carries a potential life sentence.