01/12/2010 12:39
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange wanted by Interpol
The International Criminal Police Organization, better known as Interpol, has added WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange to its wanted list, RBK.ru reports citing BBC.
Earlier Julian Paul Assange, a 39-year-old male from Townsville, Australia, was accused of sex crimes. The warrant for his arrest that sparked the Interpol listing comes from the International Public Prosecution Office in Gothenberg, Sweden.
The warrant stems from accusations of sexual assault made earlier this year by two women he met in Sweden during a WikiLeaks-related trip. When the more serious charge of rape was dropped, he called the accusations a smear campaign.
However, the case against Assange was reopened and upheld by an appeals court. Swedish authorities intend to interrogate the WikiLeaks founder and have issued an EAW (European Arrest Warrant) to get him.
WikiLeaks has been the center of media and political attention for its recent leak of the Afghan War Diaries and sensitive U.S. diplomatic cables. The result has been an unprecedented look into U.S. diplomacy, including discussions surrounding Pakistan relations, a plan of action for North Korea, and the hacking of Google’s servers by China’s Politburo that caused an international uproar.