Cables show 'US seeks Assange'

18 Aug 2012, 10:33 am   -   Source: AAP
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Ecuador has offered to let WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stay indefinitely in its embassy in London. (AAP)

Ecuador has offered to let WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stay indefinitely in its embassy in London. (AAP)

Australian diplomats believe the US is targeting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for possible prosecution, according to documents obtained by a newspaper.

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Australian diplomats believe the US is targeting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for possible prosecution, according to documents obtained by a newspaper.

The Australian embassy in Washington is taking seriously the possibility Assange could eventually be extradited to the US on charges including espionage and conspiracy relating to the release of classified information by WikiLeaks, Fairfax newspapers report.

The embassy has been keeping tabs on a US investigation into WikiLeaks and Assange for more than 18 months and cites media reports about the empanelment of a grand jury to pursue the WikiLeaks case, according to declassified cables released under Freedom of Information and obtained by Fairfax.

The view expressed in the cables conflicts with Foreign Minister Bob Carr's public statements on the Australian's possible fate.

Fairfax reports the cables also show that the Australian government requested early advice from the US on any decision to indict or seek extradition of Assange.

The Australian embassy in Washington is taking seriously the possibility Assange could eventually be extradited to the US on charges including espionage and conspiracy relating to the release of classified information by WikiLeaks, Fairfax newspapers report.

The embassy has been keeping tabs on a US investigation into WikiLeaks and Assange for more than 18 months and cites media reports about the empanelment of a grand jury to pursue the WikiLeaks case, according to declassified cables released under Freedom of Information and obtained by Fairfax.

The view expressed in the cables conflicts with Foreign Minister Bob Carr's public statements on the Australian's possible fate.

Fairfax reports the cables also show that the Australian government requested early advice from the US on any decision to indict or seek extradition of Assange.

Julian Assange. , Wikileaks , Ecuador

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Your Comments

Thats what Assange have been saying all along

Yousif - from Sydney, 10 months ago

It is discusting that the government questioned the Indonesean law when an Australian drug trafficker was convicted but practicly gives the green light to powerful countries to potentially execute a journalist who revealed nothing but a true story. Shameful.

In da Know

Fire Dog - from Far Kew NSW, 10 months ago

How can you tell if Bob Carr is lying....? You can see his lips move.....! This goes for politicians in general!

Is Julian Assange just another journalist?

Glen Sheather - from Ulmarra, 10 months ago

Did Julian Assange did anything different than any other journalist would have done if given the mas in information that he was given

Is Julian Assange just another journalist?

Glen Sheather - from Ulmarra, 10 months ago

I don't beleive Julian Assange did anything different than any other journalist would have done if given the mas in information that he was given

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