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Assange mulls appearing before US Senate panel: Lawyer

The national flag of Ecuador flies from a pole outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been holed up for over five years, on July 30, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in Ecuador's London embassy for six years, is considering an offer to appear before the United States Senate Intelligence Committee to discuss alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election, his lawyer said on Thursday.

"The US Senate Select Committee request confirms their interest in hearing from Mr Assange," lawyer Jennifer Robinson said in a statement.

"The inquiry has asked for him to appear in person at a mutually agreeable time and place. We are seriously considering the offer but must ensure Mr Assange’s protection is guaranteed."

On Wednesday, WikiLeaks published a letter which it said was from the committee, asking Assange to make himself available to appear for a closed interview.

Assange has been living in the embassy since he was granted asylum in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questions about allegations of sex crimes, accusations that were later dropped.

A pedestrian passes a banner reading "Freedom for Assange" outside the Ecuadorian embassy, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been holed up for over five years, on July 30, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

However, he would be arrested by British police for breaching bail conditions should he leave the building and he has always said he fears being extradited to the US for having published a huge cache of US diplomatic and military secrets on the WikiLeaks website.

(Source: Reuters)


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