Interpol issues red notice for Assange

Interpol has issued a red notice for the founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, BBC reports. The Australian was wanted for questioning in Sweden over an alleged sex offense, which he has denied. Interpol issues red notice for Assange Assange has not been charged in Sweden, and is at this point wanted as a witness for questioning, said the news agencies. The interpol notice is not an arrest warrant, but a request to those aware of Assange's whearabouts to contact police. The notice should also facilitate his extradition to Sweden from other countries, should the WikiLeaks founder be detained. Meanwhile, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has said he did not approve an offer of residency made to Assange. Julian Assange (Beta/AP, file) Gates downplays U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the release of thousands of classified documents by the WikiLeaks website is embarrassing but is not having a big impact, VOA reports. Gates told reporters in Washington on Tuesday the leaked diplomatic cables have had only, in his words, "a fairly modest" impact on relations with other countries. According to Tanjug news agency, Gates said that other governments maintained relations with the United States because it was in their interest, rather than because "they like us or trust us, or because they think we know how to keep their secrets". "Some governments deal with us because they're afraid of us, others because they respect us, and most because they need us," said Gates. "Clinton should resign" Meanwhile, the WikiLeaks website, hosting the disclosed data, yesterday came under a massive DDoS attack, shutting in down for most of the day. In China, the website has been blocked, said reports. In the United States, the Time magazine said that it spoke to Assange via Skype from an undisclosed location. Asked whether U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton - described as someone who might end up as "the fall guy" in the controversy - should now resign, Assange said: "I don't think it would make much of a difference either way. But she should resign if it can be shown that she was responsible for ordering U.S. diplomatic figures to engage in espionage in the United Nations, in violation of the international covenants to which the U.S. has signed up. Yes, she should resign over that." He also explained that the website was presently publishing "about 80 cables a day", and that this will "gradually step up as the other media partners step in." There are about a quarter of a million documents to be released in this way. The WikiLeaks founder also confirmed that a large U.S. financial corporation was "next in its sights". White House press secretary Robert Gibbs reacted to this interview by saying that Assange's statements "are both ridiculous and absurd". Clinton, said Gibbs, "has done nothing wrong, and U.S. diplomats do not engage in spying".

Interpol issues red notice for Assange

Assange has not been charged in Sweden, and is at this point wanted as a witness for questioning, said the news agencies.

The interpol notice is not an arrest warrant, but a request to those aware of Assange's whearabouts to contact police.

The notice should also facilitate his extradition to Sweden from other countries, should the WikiLeaks founder be detained.

Meanwhile, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has said he did not approve an offer of residency made to Assange.

Gates downplays

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the release of thousands of classified documents by the WikiLeaks website is embarrassing but is not having a big impact, VOA reports.

Gates told reporters in Washington on Tuesday the leaked diplomatic cables have had only, in his words, "a fairly modest" impact on relations with other countries.

According to Tanjug news agency, Gates said that other governments maintained relations with the United States because it was in their interest, rather than because "they like us or trust us, or because they think we know how to keep their secrets".

"Some governments deal with us because they're afraid of us, others because they respect us, and most because they need us," said Gates.

"Clinton should resign"

Meanwhile, the WikiLeaks website, hosting the disclosed data, yesterday came under a massive DDoS attack, shutting in down for most of the day.

In China, the website has been blocked, said reports.

In the United States, the Time magazine said that it spoke to Assange via Skype from an undisclosed location.

Asked whether U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton - described as someone who might end up as "the fall guy" in the controversy - should now resign, Assange said: "I don't think it would make much of a difference either way. But she should resign if it can be shown that she was responsible for ordering U.S. diplomatic figures to engage in espionage in the United Nations, in violation of the international covenants to which the U.S. has signed up. Yes, she should resign over that."

He also explained that the website was presently publishing "about 80 cables a day", and that this will "gradually step up as the other media partners step in." There are about a quarter of a million documents to be released in this way.

The WikiLeaks founder also confirmed that a large U.S. financial corporation was "next in its sights".

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs reacted to this interview by saying that Assange's statements "are both ridiculous and absurd".

Clinton, said Gibbs, "has done nothing wrong, and U.S. diplomats do not engage in spying".