SYDNEY: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assangeon Monday called for diplomatic guarantees he will not be pursued by the United States for publishing secret documents if he goes toSweden to face criminal allegations.
The Australian, 40, said he is prepared to go to Sweden to face questioning over sex assault claims, but fears Stockholm will turn him over to the US where he could face espionage and conspiracy charges over revelations by WikiLeaks. "Ultimately it may be a matter of what guarantees the UK, the US and Sweden are willing to provide," he told the Sydney Morning Herald from the Ecuador embassy in London.
Assange believes US will pursue him after WikiLeaks published a cache of sensitive documents, including about the Afghan and Iraq wars, and thousands of diplomatic cables which have embarrassed governments worldwide. "For example, if the US were to guarantee (it would) drop the grand jury investigation and any further investigation of WikiLeaks publishing activity , that would be an important guarantee," he said.
The Australian, 40, said he is prepared to go to Sweden to face questioning over sex assault claims, but fears Stockholm will turn him over to the US where he could face espionage and conspiracy charges over revelations by WikiLeaks. "Ultimately it may be a matter of what guarantees the UK, the US and Sweden are willing to provide," he told the Sydney Morning Herald from the Ecuador embassy in London.
Assange believes US will pursue him after WikiLeaks published a cache of sensitive documents, including about the Afghan and Iraq wars, and thousands of diplomatic cables which have embarrassed governments worldwide. "For example, if the US were to guarantee (it would) drop the grand jury investigation and any further investigation of WikiLeaks publishing activity , that would be an important guarantee," he said.
