Arrest still awaits WikiLeaks founder if he leaves embassy in London
World
Arrest still awaits WikiLeaks founder if he leaves embassy in London
The fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could become clear in the coming days. While British police have said they still plan to arrest Assange if he leaves the Ecuadorean Embassy in London where he’s been holed up for more than three years, a media report emerged that a United Nation’s panel examining Assange’s appeal is to rule Friday that his stay in the embassy amounts to “unlawful detention.” Assange, though, tweeted Wednesday that he is willing to turn himself into British authorities if the U.N. panel rules against him.
Should the U.N. announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden, I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal.
Statement from Julian Assange
A decision in his favor would mark the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed the United States and its allies by using his WikiLeaks website to leak hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic and military cables in 2010, disclosures that often embarrassed Washington. Assange is wanted by Swedish authorities for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct.
