Australia Not Asked To Charge Julian Assange
Australia has not been asked to consider bringing criminal charges against the reclusive founder of the Wikileaks website for publishing classified documents about the Afghanistan war.
The US administration has accused Australian Julian Assange, the website’s editor-in-chief, of having blood on his hands.
The thousands of leaked documents contain information about the NATO-led military efforts in Afghanistan, and the names of Afghan informers.
The FBI is helping investigate the leak and the US has not ruled out a criminal investigation into Mr Assange.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the US administration had not asked him to consider pressing criminal charges against Mr Assange.
“I have not had representations made to me about the matters you refer to,” Mr Smith said in answer to a question at the National Press Club in Canberra where he was debating his opposition counterpart Julie Bishop on Thursday.
Nor had the US asked Australia to restrict Mr Assange’s passport.
Mr Smith criticised Wikileaks for publishing the documents, saying there were “very serious matters for concern”.
The leaks could affect Australian troops in Afghanistan, and Afghan citizens working alongside them.
Ms Bishop also condemned Wikileaks, saying Australia should contemplate all actions to avoid risks to its troops.
Defence has set up a taskforce to review what impact the leaked information may have on Australia’s national interest.
Mr Assange was born in Queensland and educated at the University of Melbourne. He now travels widely.