Australia’s prime minister stands firm against the US on WikiLeaks founder’s prosecution

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government is standing firm against the United States over the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Albanese’s center-left Labor Party government has been arguing since winning  elections last year that the U.S. should end its pursuit of the 52-year-old Australian citizen who is fighting extradition from Britain on U.S. espionage charges. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back Saturday during a visit to Australia. He says Assange is accused of very serious criminal conduct. On Tuesday, Albanese said U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has made the same points with Australian government officials during private discussions. But, he said, “We remain very firm in our view.”