Assange's Barbaric Arrest
* Assange arrested in relation to US extradition warrant, UK’s Met Police says "Julian Assange, has today, Thursday April 11, been further arrested
on behalf of the United States authorities… after his arrival at a central London police station. This is an extradition warrant under Section 73 of the Extradition Act. He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court as soon as possible," the statement reads.
* Assange’s arrest sets dangerous precedent for journalists — Reporters Without Borders
The non-profit organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) believes that the arrest of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange sets a dangerous precedent for journalists, RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire said on Twitter on Thursday.
"Targeting Assange because of Wikileaks’ provision of information to journalists that was in the public interest would be a punitive measure and would set a dangerous precedent for journalists or their sources that the US may wish to pursue in future," the tweet reads.
* Ecuador revokes decision to grant citizenship to WikiLeaks founder, says Foreign Ministry
Ecuador’s authorities revoked their decision to grant Ecuadorian citizenship to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ecuador Jose Valencia said at a news conference on Thursday.
"The decision to grant Ecuadorian citizenship to Assange was suspended due to various violations (norms linked to the conditions of his stay on the territory of the republic’s embassy in the UK - TASS)," he stated.
* Assange’s accomplice detained in Ecuador
Ecuador’s police have detained an accomplice of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Ecuadorian Interior Minister Maria Paula Romo said on Thursday.
"A person who is close to him lives here, we have convincing evidence that he maintained contacts with former Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino. He was detained this afternoon," she told Sonorama radio station.
Assange’s accomplice was hauled off at the airport when he tried to fly to Japan.
At a news conference, Roma said that Ecuador’s authorities had information that a person close to Assange, who lives in Ecuador, "contributed to the attempts of destabilizing the situation in the country with the goal of harming the government."
Daily Express reported citing journalist Vijay Prashad that
the detained individual was Swedish national Ola Bini, a WikiLeaks software developer. He does not speak Spanish.
* Russian diplomat slams Assange’s prosecution as US political elite’s revenge
Prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is the US political elite’s revenge over information that he made public,
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
"Certainly, this is an issue of vengeance or revenge of the US political establishment. It could become reconciled after information that turned upside-down the international community’s idea on the methods of work of [the US] legislative and executive power had been unveiled," Zakharova told Dozhd (Rain) TV channel.
"First and foremost, Washington is behind Assange’s prosecution, and the others play second fiddle, this is evident," the diplomat said.
* Moscow hopes all rights of Assange arrested in London will be respected
The arrest of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange runs counter to the idea of freedom of the media, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding Moscow expected that his legitimate rights would be respected.
"In fact, it [Wikileaks] is an independent source of information that is being persecuted," Peskov said. "Certainly, from our standpoint, it runs totally counter to the idea of freedom of the media and the media’s immunity," he emphasized. "This is why we expect that all of Assange’s legitimate rights will be respected," the Kremlin spokesman added.
Facing hurdles from U.S., war crimes judges reject Afghan probe
Just days after the United States government revoked the visa of the International Criminal Court's prosecutor, ICC judges rejected her request to open an investigation into alleged atrocities in the war in Afghanistan, citing practical reasons.
Note: Anyone coming across any current info on Chelsea Manning? With
Swedish national Ola Bini detained, this is turning into a witch-hunt and chances are - that Manning might be in jeopardy of being detained, for God knows what reason?
