WikiLeaks’ organisers want founder Assange to resign over rape, molestation charges

SYDNEY - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is reportedly being pressurised by the management of his own website to step down after Swedish prosecutors reopened a rape investigation against him.

Moves are already afoot to oust Assange if he chooses not to step down voluntarily. Several WikiLeaks organisers, including Birgitta Jonsdottir who is also a parliamentarian in Iceland, are now finding it difficult to handle the situation.

“I am not angry with Julian, but this is a situation that has clearly gotten out of hand. These personal matters should have nothing to do with WikiLeaks. I have strongly urged him to focus on the legalities that he’s dealing with and let some other people carry the torch,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Jonsdottir, as saying.

He further stated that Assange is a chauvinist and does not have good social skills.

“I really care very much for WikiLeaks and I do consider myself to be Julian’s friend. But good friends are the people who tell you if your face is dirty,” he added.

Swedish prosecutors dismissed a rape case against Assange within days of the claims being made by two Swedish women, but reopened their investigation after interviewing Assange over lesser molestation claims.

Sweden’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Marianne Ny, said that on the basis of the new information, Assange would be investigated on suspicion of “sexual coercion and sexual molestation”.

“There is reason to believe that a crime has been committed,” she added.

Another anonymous WikiLeaks organizer said that Assange’s insistence on remaining the public face of the website was creating “a mess for everyone” as it prepares to release an additional cache of classified US military reports. (ANI)