[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
International News Title: BBC News HD - Julian Assange appears on Ecuadorian embassy balcony BREAKING NEWS: The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has made his first public since entering the Ecuadorian embassy in London two months ago. He was granted asylum by Ecuador on Wednesday. Britain has said he should be extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning about alleged sex offences, which he denies. Speaking from the balcony of the embassy, Mr Assange called on US President Barack Obama to "do the right thing" and for his government to "renounce its witch hunt against Wikileaks". Mr Assange called for the US government to "renounce its witch hunt against Wikileaks" Continue reading the main story Related Stories Julian Assange has been talking with his legal adviser Baltasar Garzon inside the Ecuadorean embassy Mr Assange entered the embassy after the UK's Supreme Court dismissed his bid to reopen his appeal against extradition and gave him a two-week grace period before extradition proceedings could start. Ecuador's president Rafael Correa has suggested Mr Assange could co-operate with Sweden if assurances are given that there would be no extradition to a third country. Shortly before Mr Assange delivered his speech, his legal adviser Baltasar Garzon said the Australian had told lawyers to carry out "a legal action" protecting "the rights of Wikileaks [and] Julian himself". Mr Garzon, a former judge, did not give specific details of the action but said it would also extend to "all those currently being investigated". Barrister and former government lawyer, Carl Gardner, said Mr Assange's options were now severely limited. "There's no legal action he can take now. All he can do is make these public calls for people to do things he would like them to do and play a waiting game with the British authorities. "The British government is likely to think that time is on their side. It's Julian Assange who is stuck in this embassy. It's the Ecuadoreans who have the problem of him on their hands and perhaps one of them is likely to tire of the situation before Britain." Ecuador wants 'Assange guarantee' Americas to meet over Assange row Ecuador split on Assange asylum Julian Assange has urged the US to end its "witch-hunt" against Wikileaks, in his first public statement since entering Ecuador's London embassy. He also called for the release of Bradley Manning, who is awaiting trial in the US accused of leaking classified documents to the Wikileaks site. Mr Assange spoke from a balcony at the embassy and thanked Ecuador's president, who has granted him asylum. He faces extradition to Sweden over sexual assault claims, which he denies. Mr Assange said: "As Wikileaks stands under threat, so does the freedom of expression and the health of all our societies. "We must use this moment to articulate the choice that is before the government of the United States of America. "Will it return to and re-affirm the revolutionary values it was founded on? Legal battle Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread |
|
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]
|