Wikileaks founder Assange arrested

Wikileaks founder Assange arrested
PTI
LONDON, DEC 7
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been in hiding for nearly a week, was arrested here today on suspicion of rape after surrendering over a Swedish warrant, a move described as an attack on the freedom of press by his whistle-blower website that has leaked a cache of secret United States cables.
 Thirty nine-year-old Assange, an Australian citizen, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on the basis of an arrest warrant issued from Sweden relating to allegations of sexual assaults against him.
 The elusive WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted two women in Sweden.
  In a statement, police said: “Officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape.”
Assange “was arrested on a European arrest warrant by appointment at a London police station at 9.30 am. He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010.”
 Soon after he was taken into custody, a spokesman for WikiLeaks said the arrest will not stop the release of more secret files.
 He said Assange’s arrest — which took place amid release of a series of classified US government cables — was an attack on the freedom of press.
The extradition of Assange, who was due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today, may take a long time due to legal challenges, but it can be swift if the accused waives his legal rights.
 Assange’s supporters have written an open letter to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, asking her to protect him.
 One of the signatories, prominent barrister, Julian Burnside said: “First and foremost Julian Assange is an Australian citizen who is entitled to the protection of his country and does not deserve to be betrayed by his country.”
 “Julia Gillard has been making it virtually impossible for Assange to return to Australia where he is entitled to be. And she has even threatened to cancel his passport. That is an outrageous stance to take.”
Mark Stephens, a lawyer representing Assange, said: “He has not been charged with anything. It’s about time we got to the end of the day and we got some truth, justice and rule of law.”
In Sweden, a WikiLeaks spokesman called for action against those who have attacked Assange.
“There have been death threats to his life and incitement to murder,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assange has told a UK court he will fight extradition to Sweden.
The 39-year-old Australian was appearing before City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He was asked whether he understood that he could consent to be extradited to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sex crimes.
Assange said that he understood and that he did not consent. Assange arrived at the London court hours after British police arrested him on a Swedish arrest warrant for suspected sex crimes, a court official said.
Police blocked the street outside the City of Westminster magistrates court.
Assange’s London-based lawyer Mark Stephens said that Assange was “fine” after he surrendered to Scotland Yard’s extradition unit at a police station in the capital today.
“It was very cordial. They have verified his identity. They are satisfied he is the real Julian Assange and we are ready to go into court,” the lawyer told reporters.
We will fight all attempts to extradite him to Sweden, his lawyers said. The legal process could take weeks or even months.
Police said he may not be granted it because of the risk that he will try to flee the country.
Assange was arrested on a European arrest warrant issued by Sweden over allegations of unlawful coercion, sexual molestation and rape, the British Metropolitan Police said.
He has denied the charges, with his lawyers saying they could be “politically motivated” following the release by WikiLeaks of thousands of secret US documents.