13°c A few clouds
6°c Clear
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Assange asks Obama to end 'witch hunt'
WikiLeaks founder reappears
Sang Tan / The Associated Press Julian Assange speaks Sunday from a window of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has taken refuge. (CP)
LONDON -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange urged U.S. President Barack Obama to end a so-called "witch hunt" against his secrets-spilling website, appearing in public Sunday for the first time since he took refuge two months ago inside the Ecuador Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden on sex-crimes allegations.
The 41-year-old Australian, who has fought for two years against efforts to send him to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual misconduct against two women, addressed several hundred supporters and reporters as he spoke from the small balcony of Ecuador's mission, watched by dozens of British police.
Ecuador President Rafael Correa granted Assange asylum Thursday and he remains out of reach of British authorities while inside the country's embassy. Britain insists if he steps outside, he will be detained and sent to Sweden, as by law it must meet the obligations of a European arrest warrant.
Praising Correa, Assange said "a courageous Latin American nation took a stand for justice" in offering him sanctuary, but he did not refer to the Swedish allegations against him. Instead, he tried to shift attention to what he claims are preparations in the United States to punish him for the publication by WikiLeaks of a trove of American diplomatic and military secrets.
Assange and his supporters claim the Swedish case is merely the opening gambit in a Washington-orchestrated plot to make him stand trial in the U.S., a stand disputed by Swedish authorities and the women involved.
"I ask President Obama to do the right thing. The United States must renounce its witch hunt against WikiLeaks," Assange said, speaking from a first-floor balcony decorated with an Ecuadorean flag, standing just metres away from British police officers.
"The United States must dissolve its FBI investigation. The United States must vow that it will not seek to prosecute our staff or our supporters," he said.
The White House declined comment Sunday, but on Saturday it said Assange's fate is an issue for Sweden, Britain and Ecuador to resolve. A Virginia grand jury is studying evidence that might link Assange to Pte. Bradley Manning, the U.S. soldier who has been charged with aiding the enemy by passing the secret files to WikiLeaks and is awaiting trial. No action against Assange has yet been taken.
South America's foreign ministers were to meet in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Sunday at the host nation's request to discuss the case. On Friday, foreign ministers of the Organization of American States are to convene in Washington to discuss the standoff.
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 20, 2012 B5
More World
- Back to Top
- Return to World
More World
(1 of 25 articles for today)
Obama lifts ban on the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to Yemen
1:57 PM 0WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he is lifting his ban on the transfer of detainees from the Guantanamo Bay, ...
Poll
Most Popular World
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Youths in Stockholm burn down restaurant, torch more than 30 cars in 4th night of rioting
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Muslim hardliners ID suspect seen after British soldier butchered in broad daylight
- Gay teen charged for having younger girlfriend
- 'An eye for an eye'
- Bangladesh probe faults swampy land, poor building materials, heavy equipment for collapse
- Polish man gets quick face transplant in what doctors say was life-saving decision
- Canseco accused of sex assault in Vegas; former slugger airs info on Twitter
- Preliminary estimate puts Oklahoma tornado damage at $2 billion; 13,000 homes damaged, ruined
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Search for survivors of Oklahoma tornado nearly complete, as homeowners confront devastation
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Phone cracked? Cool
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Polish man gets quick face transplant in what doctors say was life-saving decision
- Umbrella-gate stirs outrage
- US zoo looking into conception mystery after birth of anteater; no male in pen
- Remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, with lava fountains, ash plumes
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Friendship with bomb suspect, complex chain of events leads to 3 being charged
- Police vow to solve shooting that wounded 19 people during Mother's Day parade in New Orleans
- Missing Pa. woman, last seen dropping off kids for school in 2002, surfaces in Fla.
- Cleveland police: Ohio captive suffered 5 miscarriages after being beaten and starved
- Jodi Arias convicted of first-degree murder, says she prefers death penalty
- Neighbours: Man in custody comforted missing girl's mom, helped search for missing US women
- Search for survivors of Oklahoma tornado nearly complete, as homeowners confront devastation
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Phone cracked? Cool
- The pope and the devil: Francis' obsession with Satan leads to suspicion he performed exorcism
- FBI: Man killed had become violent during questioning on Boston bombing
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of rock group The Doors, dies at 74 from cancer
- Hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who intervened in California attack arrested in NJ homicide
- Remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, with lava fountains, ash plumes
- Argentina's 'dirty war' dictator dies
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Shady characters: Cookie Monster, Elmo accused of aggressive behaviour in Times Square
- U.S. envoy punted; Russia alleges spying
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Up to 60 people injured when car drives into Va. parade; medical emergency possible cause
- 'Coronation Street' actor William Roache charged in UK over alleged rapes in 1967
- Coroner: 5-year-old boy shoots 2-year-old sister in US with rifle he got as a gift
- Hitler ate well, his food taster recalls
- Black bear wanders into LA-area suburbia, chases swimmers from pool, strands kids in class
- Female guards, rapidly growing in numbers, at heart of U.S. prison scandal
- Phone cracked? Cool
- US tourists swim for nearly 14 hours after boat sinks near St. Lucia
- IBM makes movie about a little boy - a very little boy - by pushing molecules around
- Friendship with bomb suspect, complex chain of events leads to 3 being charged
- Missing Pa. woman, last seen dropping off kids for school in 2002, surfaces in Fla.
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.