WikiLeaks faces ‘very aggressive’ investigation by US: Assange

LONDON - WikiLeaks faces a “very aggressive” and secretive investigation by American authorities stung by a perceived loss of face following the release of thousands of classified US diplomatic cables, the whistleblower website’s founder, Julian Assange, has said.

WikiLeaks has angered the US by releasing the cables on its website, and teaming up with newspapers around the globe to amplify the impact of the disclosures.

“WikiLeaks faced what appears to be an illegal investigation… certain people who are alleged to be affiliated to us have been detained, followed around, had their computers seized and so on,” the Guardian quoted Assange, as saying.

He believes that it was “80 percent likely” that the US authorities were seeking to prepare an attempt to have him extradited there to face charges of espionage.

“I would say that there is a very aggressive investigation, that a lot of face has been lost by some people, and some people have careers to make by pursuing famous cases, but that is actually something that needs monitoring,” Assange said.

The 39-year-old further said that he was worried about the prospect of being sent to the US.

“There have been many calls by senior political figures in the United States, including elected ones in the Senate, for my execution, the kidnapping of my staff, the execution of the young soldier Bradley Manning … that’s a very, very serious business,” Assange said.

“The United States has shown recently that its institutions seem to be failing to follow the rule of law. And dealing with a superpower that does not appear to be following the rule of law is a serious business,” he added. (ANI)