“Frustrating”: Australia’s prime minister calls for Assange’s release

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called again for the release of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is imprisoned in the UK. “Enough is enough,” Albanese told Australian broadcaster ABC on Friday.

The 51-year-old Australian’s continued detention is “frustrating” and is of no use to anyone. “I think the Assange case should be viewed in terms of what happened, what the allegations are and whether the time actually served exceeds what would be reasonable if proven,” Albanese said.

Assange has been in a London prison for four years. Prior to that, he was detained in the Ecuadorian Embassy in the British Embassy for seven years to avoid arrest and extradition to the US. Late last year, Albanese said: “My position is clear and has been made clear to the US government: it is time to end this matter.” However, all his government’s diplomatic efforts have so far not led to a solution, he now said.

The United States accuses Assange of stealing and publishing secret materials from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with US whistleblower Chelsea Manning, endangering the lives of informants. If extradited, they face up to 175 years in prison.

Supporters, on the other hand, see Assange as a courageous journalist who exposed war crimes. The government in London has approved the extradition. The legal wrangling is not over yet. (sda/dpa)