Sweden spurns offer to quiz Assange
Video: AFP
Ecuador's foreign minister says Swedish officials have refused to accept his country's offer to let them question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Ricardo Patino said Sweden declined the offer to question Mr Assange in person or via video conference at Ecuador's embassy in London.
Mr Assange, 41, took refuge in the embassy on June 19 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning for alleged sexual misconduct.
He claims the accusations are a pretext to extradite him to the United States, which he claims wants to prosecute him for publishing secret US documents.
Ecuador says it will not announce a decision on Mr Assange's asylum request until after the Olympics.
Mr Assange's mother Christine met Ecuador's president Rafael Correa in the capital Quito yesterday.
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cesco di luigi
Aug 3rd 2012, 18:30
america likes to be thought of as the country of free thought and free speech.....but it's as bad as the worst communist regimes..this guy exposed them so they want their revenge on him
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 2nd 2012, 22:22
It is obvious that many of the comments in favour of Assange come from people who are deeply and ideologically opposed to the USA. Indeed, in some of the comments, one can sense a deep hatred of the USA. Whether the authors are brainwashed by communism is a moot point. Yes, I have been to the USA many times, and I have first hand knowledge of that great, free country. And no, I do not get a monthly cheque from the USA, as one correspondent brazenly and typically implied. I just happen to know where justice lies.The bottom line is as I said , Assange will soon get his comeuppance.
Robert Callus
Aug 3rd 2012, 10:42
I completely disagree on this.
What Assange is doing is in the best interest of US citizens. The taxpayers who are funding these senseless wars, while they beg for free healthcare. The ones who funded the Iraq invasion because of WMD's that weren't there - while they can't afford housing.
They have a right to know where their money is going.
PS: Assange has exposed a lot of governmental scandals. Not only of that of the US. If I remember well, the first massive exposure in Wikileaks was that of the Kenyan government stacking billions of dollars that were supposed to be used for combating Malaria.
Bill Khan
Aug 3rd 2012, 13:17
@ Joseph N. Attard
You would be kindly differentiate the people of united States from the administration which is completely in the control of the Rothchild Banks. The general public in teh States is the victim of the Military-Banking Complex. The people shot in a cinema are having tro foot their own medical bills. You have accused the contributors on this forum of being Anti-or hating America. Do you often wonder as to why more than 70 % of people across the world hate America. Your comments,.The bottom line is as I said , Assange will soon get his comeuppance', really epitomises the rendering of justice in America where people have ben kept in custody without trail for years. What Assange has done is to expose millions of facts which the US administration did not want the world to know. He merely exposed the hypocrisy of the Us and its allies.
Any thing wrong with that? Would you rather not know the truth whether you are communist, a facist or conservative or a socialist or a liberal. I know i would no matter where it comes from. What purpose would it serve to send Assange to the gallows? Who will be the Pontius Pilate, to say in the end 'I wash my hands off this'?
Bill Jensen
Aug 17th 2012, 11:18
Joseph, your spot on with this. Often people use this forum ( Bill Khan), to 'bash' the West and in particular America. - 'Do you often wonder as to why more than 70 % of people across the world hate America.?' -
- Lies, More Lies and Statistics - Benjamin Disraeli
Assange I just have one thing to say.....
Beware of the SAS!!!!!, history says that they have a lot of experience when it comes to embassies.
D Borg
Aug 2nd 2012, 18:05
The American government has systematically strived to block, donations that any citizens throughout the world freely wishes to send to Wikileaks.
Does this denotes 'freedom', let alone freedom of speech, tranparency of information and fair hearing?
Joseph Borg
Aug 2nd 2012, 14:01
@Joseph N. Attard
"were it not for the USA, the world would have been taken over by dictators of the worst kind long ago."
Do you realy believe that? Have you been in the USA? Go and see for yourself. I tell you that the worst dictators are the American leaders. They are interested in themselves only and everyone must abide to their ruling whether you like it or not. We know only the good part of the USA but the evil part you have to search for it to know it. For example a lot of suffering and diseases were caused by the USA military and other secrets agents. Go there and try to talk on communism and see what happened to you. And the list goes on.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Aug 3rd 2012, 03:49
Like most other countries, the US has its good and bad points. What I can say about Americans is that they are proud of their country, and very proud indeed. Pity we Maltese don't have the same pride towards our country as they do towards theirs. And yes they have religious nuts because of their puritan tradition. Like most great empires, the USA has a shame file. Do we not have our own shame file in Malta? Yes, we may not have invaded other countries (we can't even reach Filfla yet!) but how tolerant are we towards minorities? I can tell you one thing about American clients that I see. They are always polite and a pleasure to deal with.
Daniel Borg
Aug 2nd 2012, 13:07
@mr.aquilina Your reasoning doesn't make any sense. Its like saying, lets punish the police force for uncovering the activities of a drug lord cause they tapped his phones and entered his property without any permission. The leaks where published months later inorder to safeguard everyone's security (us included) The US are furious cause their network of hypocrecy, mainly to lobby gov officials and acquire natural resources was unveilled.
Robert Callus
Aug 2nd 2012, 12:43
@Joseph N. Attard, Victor Gelfo
Unwittingly, you're proving Assange right. That sexual misconduct is just an excuse. What they really want him for is exposing the truth. THIS truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0
Who are the criminals? Those who are indiscriminately shooting Iraqi civilians in the clip above, or who leaked the video - Bradley Manning? Because it's Manning who's facing live in prison, not the murderers.
And that's what Assange is afraid of.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Aug 2nd 2012, 12:35
Whether Assange acted properly or not with respect to Wikileaks is totally irrelevant. What is at stake here is whether or not he committed the crime of sexual assault. Sweden should have had enough decency to send police officers to question him and then decide whether to proceed with the trial. Their decision not to co-operate shows bad faith.
henry caruana
Aug 2nd 2012, 11:17
@ Mr Aquilina
The aircraft flying him will never reach sweden . It will land in washington
And what is there to prove ??? Swedish court declared two years ago there no case to answer
Court found both prostitutes are drug addicts, both mingle and frequently visit embassy officials
Read daily swedish DAGBLAD
Victor Gelfo
Aug 2nd 2012, 11:08
By defying the US secret documents, Assange had put in jeopardy not only the US but also our own security!
Our country forms part of the free world, and by revealing military secrets, Assange had opened wide our security to organisations like al qaeda, hisbollah and shaban.
A. MICALLEF
Aug 2nd 2012, 13:37
Assange is a hero, he uncovered the way the warmongers and imperialists rule the world
nowadays, and cause pain and misery to so many people. US, the British and French are
warmongers and state terrorists. In fact these copuntries are always at war with different
with different countries the same time. They are always after oil, iron ore, uranium etc.,
D Borg
Aug 2nd 2012, 17:59
Well said Micallef
Daniel Borg
Aug 2nd 2012, 10:26
@joseph So someone who systematically uncovered a network of corruption through the power of the internet will face the consequences for all his life. And what will happen to the US ambassadors who spied and leaked very crucial and vital info on other countries without their consent? Isn't that a breach of privacy and if they didn't act in an irresponsible manner, they assamge would be have nothing to leak.
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 2nd 2012, 12:01
@Daniel Borg. You call it a network of corruption. Others call it state secrets. Assage endangered world security. He will never be off the hook for the rest of his life. Sooner or later he will have to pay.
Charles Attard
Aug 2nd 2012, 13:24
It is perfectly OK to create the Taliban as long as they were fighting the Russians ..but not OK when they had to fight them themselves, was OK to lie about Vietnam and start a war, was OK to Lie about Iraq WMDs which never existed..and destroy the Cradle of civilization ..and so many are still dying. Joseph N Attar world Security is being threatened by no one, more the American and Israeli Zionists themselves!! Joseph's World security is nothing other than controlling the World by ravaging and murdering innocent civilians in order to control Oil assets and stop the rise of China and her allies!! Blackwater (mercenaries) are also a tool of this so called World security just like Mossad and the CIA!!
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 2nd 2012, 09:43
Assange deserves the death penalty for endangering the security of the American people by breaching Top Secret military documents. He thought he could defy everyone, and now he wil pay for his actions for the rest of his life.
henry caruana
Aug 2nd 2012, 11:00
Joseph
In your naivety you think ASSANGE should be punished for showing to PEACEFUL WORLD
the american warmongers HYPOCRECY
It's unbelievable for a MALTESE to side with hypocrecy unless he / she on usa payroll
ASSANGE defied no one, but ONLY brought to your masters attention the HYPOCRECY
played by americans against your and the world security and safety and for such good deed he deserve the FREE from usa zionism influence PEACEFUL WORLD highest honours
Soon this episode is cleared, he may settle in ECUADOR or may take our invitation and settle in
our island MALTA where we will be honoured and proud to accommodate him
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 2nd 2012, 11:57
@henry caruana. You have your way of looking at things, I have mine. We will not convert each other. Nothing is perfect in this world. But people of your ilk areconveniently forgetful that were it not for the USA, the world would have been taken over by dictators of the worst kind long ago. Any country that welcomes Assange will pay the penalty. Assage in Malta? By all means, he will find an easier passage to the USA from here. Maybe his supporters would then like to accompany him.
Charles Attard
Aug 2nd 2012, 13:02
Deserves the Death Penalty for exposing the murders carried out in the name of democracy?? For the thousands of innocent Babies who are being bornwtih extreme birth defects..thanks to the likes of you and the US / Israhell mentality??? Sure many belong to the Satanist sect, called Zionism ..they all speak with one voice ..Lies and Hatred to Hide the TRUTH!!
D Borg
Aug 2nd 2012, 17:58
Oh really...
If he was a Chinese or Russian dissident, he will be hailed as a martyr
and we will be having clinton and co talking tough
the americans deem themselves to be policing the world - but who is policing the self appointed police?
Wenzu Vella
Aug 2nd 2012, 09:09
Sweden is not interested in Mr Assange but being America’s lap dog they can put him on a plane direct to the US or to some secret prison in some of their other lap dog countries like Poland or Egypt for specialized torture. Result of this Mr Assange will be either dead, or transferred to Guantanamo, a prison famous for violating human life and dignity. Where people get locked up in cages for years on end without trials.
Joseph Aquilina
Aug 2nd 2012, 09:52
With all the media attention that will hardly ever happen! If Assange is so sure of his innocence then why not go to court and prove it?
C Cassar
Aug 2nd 2012, 11:12
because he clearly isn't.
Charles Attard
Aug 2nd 2012, 12:58
Assange can never prove his innocence against the zionists ..they torture a confession out of him in Guantanamo the land of the free!!! Therefore cannot go to courts to prove your innocence.. as they are manipulated by the zionists who exist everywhere ...just by reading the venom spat out by the likes of Joseph N Attard, Joseph Aquilina and c. Cassar is proof in itself!! They are in Malta too regretably...Perhaps sheer ignorance and still Brainwashed. No point in debating with J N Attard ..I can read him like a book ..Zionist all over his face!!
D Borg
Aug 2nd 2012, 17:55
As much as Bradley Manning is being afforded a fair and transparent trial or any shred of justice!
The Americans are showing their true colours - and their hollow interpretation of freedom...
Equador on the other hand are giving them a lesson, notwithstanding the armtwisiting 'initiatives' the Americans are up to.
Please choose the reason of your report below: