The Australian government has severed all ties with Julian Assange, stating that the Wikileaks co-founder is not their concern, while the US military prosecutors denounced him as a conspirator across the duration of Manning\u2019s court martial.<\/p>\n
\n Assange\u2019s situation \u201cdoesn’t affect Australian interests,\u201d
\n Australia\u2019s Foreign Minister Robert Carr told a US Senate budget
\n estimates committee, adding that the country would no longer be
\n making any representations to the US regarding him.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Carr stated that the country wouldn\u2019t be raising the question of
\n Assange\u2019s free speech protection with the US, also saying that no
\n inquiries would be made into whether a US grand jury was still
\n placing him under intense scrutiny.
\n <\/p>\n
\n His comments fell as the Manning trial began this week. During
\n Manning\u2019s trial, US military prosecution have alleged that
\n Assange conspired with Manning in the theft of classified
\n information, through advising him on ways to browse SIPRnet
\n \u2018anonymously.\u2019\n<\/p>\n
\n Assange responded last month to Carr\u2019s earlier accusations that
\n it was sheer \u2018fantasy\u2019 that the US were seeking to extradite him
\n by way of Sweden. He lashed out at Carr, calling him a well-known
\n liar, whose \u201cignorance is only eclipsed by his arrogance,\u201d in an
\n interview with US program \u2018Democracy Now.\u2019\n<\/p>\n
\n A spokesperson for Carr stated that \u201cname-calling doesn’t
\n alter the fact that Mr Assange has received more consular
\n assistance than any other Australian in similar
\n circumstances.\u201d<\/i>
\n <\/p>\n
\n His statement comes shortly after Australia said that they would
\n \u201ccontinue to offer Mr. Assange consular assistance as he faces
\n his legal issues overseas.\u201d<\/i> However, Carr told the Sydney
\n Morning Heraldon on Thursday that he would not \u201cover-service\u201d
\n Assange\u2019s consular requirements.\n<\/p>\n
\n The US Justice Department is still undergoing an \u2018unprecedented\u2019
\n criminal investigation into Wikileaks, according to
\n Assange.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n He is still sheltering in the UK\u2019s Ecuadorian Embassy, stating
\n that if he leaves or sets foot on British territory, he faces
\n extradition to Sweden on the grounds of alleged sexual
\n misconduct, and also potentially to the US. Ecuador and the UK
\n are expected to enter discussions regarding Assange\u2019s future
\n later in June.
\n <\/p>\n