Thursday, June 19, 2014

Assange calls on US Attorney General to resign

The founder of Wikileaks - Julian Assange - has called on the US Attorney General Eric Holder to scrap the investigation into the intelligence leaking website - or resign…

Today (6/19) marks 2 years for Mr Assange being holed up inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, after the country granted him political asylum in 2012…

He's wanted in Sweden over sexual misconduct allegations - but believes if he's extradited there he'll end up being sent to the US...

Our correspondent Dan Whitehead has been speaking to Mr Assange and brings us this report from London…

IN: Inside the…
OUT: …SOC.
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Script:

VO 1: Inside the small room at the Ecuadorian Embassy - Julian Assange runs up to 5 miles a day on a treadmill, takes vitamin D pills and gets his sunlight from a UVB lamp.

He works what he calls "hackers hours" on a computer - with, vitally, an internet connect.

His 17-hour working day is understood to involve running the Wikileaks operations and Twitter account, while his evenings are spent watching political box sets including The West Wing. The London Evening Standard newspaper says he's spent some 17-thousand dollars on take-outs.

As he remains in this limbo, the question is what next for Assange? His argument to the US Attorney General Eric Holder is that he should stand by his word that no reporter will be jailed under his watch…

CUT 1: ASSANGE-1

VO 2: The allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden mean if he leaves the Embassy, he'll be extradited there for questioning.

But with the allegations just that - there are no formal charges - he says he's offered to be questioned in London.

Outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, it's reported that 3 police officers are standing by to arrest Mr Assange at any one time.

But what the 42-year-old is most concerned about is the questioning by police of those who visit him…

CUT 2: ASSANGE-2

VO 3: Around 10 million dollars has been spent on keeping an eye on the Embassy - and former Scotland Yard Police Commander John O Connor says it's a complete waste…

CUT 3: OCONNOR-1

VO 4: Assange's legal team say next Tuesday it will file a relevant legal challenge in Sweden which may move on the case there…

But until then, Mr Assange's diplomatic battle continues.

In the embassy, the TV reception he says is poor - but admits he has been able to follow the world-cup.

Who he supports is not a great surprise…

CUT 4: ASSANGE-3

Dan Whitehead, London.