that is why they won julian assange.they want to kill the messenger because they do not like the message. rather than doing that, they should look at their own crimes and going after the people who have committed crimes. the ecuadorean ambassador or minister is correct. he has a right to asylum under the refugee convention. he will not get a fair trial in the united states. >> foreign affairs minister patino is saying julian assange is a victim of political persecution we will wrap up with you right now, michael ratner, and come back to you as a news conference ends and then make their announcements, which is reportedly that julian assange to remain in the london embassy, that not come to that point in the news conference "the new york times" has reported that. we will get the latest on what that means. we and speaking with michael ratner, legal advisor to julian assange and wikileaks. we will talk with michael again later in the broadcast. but now we're going to go to phoenix after this break. ♪ [music break] >> this is

julian assange would be the first charged.ewspaper person has been so charged. >> daniel ellsberg, the impact already of this pounding of julian assange by the swedish and the united states government, in the wings, and the scenes, orchestrating a lot of this, the impact on wikileaks and other whistleblowers? the message that is being sent that if you dare go against the empire, you'll be hounded and gone after? >> it is hardly an amazing message. it was to be expected. there was reason to think an international organization with no national roots here, and using the internet, would escape that kind of chilling affect. they found the empire here is more resourceful and creative and less mindful of its own constitution and laws and traditions than one might have hoped. but anyway, it is hardly surprising when you twist the lion's tail that the lion may get very angry. their ability to shut off the funding by intimidating, without even invoking the law, places like paypal and amazon and others, from giving any money to or servin

julian assange. enemy of the state. job has been jailed for three years for taking. a very warm welcome to you from all of us here at our moscow. straight to our breaking news story for you this hour julian has been granted political asylum by ecuador the country's foreign minister made the announcement to. the whistle blows fears of being politically prosecuted justified. the ecuadorian embassy in london. big news this is this big announcement here but what's the mood like now at the end . it is i mean it is exhilarated really there's a lot of supporters a lot of just pastas by one wonders whether they were actually on their way to a lot of them for a long time very interested in this story very interested to know what happens we say that's the reaction hair on the ground we haven't spoken directly student assholes but we do understand that he's released a statement calling this asylum decision a significant victory we have also had a reaction to the very very strong statement by the ecuadorian the foreign ministry when they granted asylum to today and i saw the for

can't necessarily pull assange out. there's a hitch in the plan -- the hitch, apparently there's no garage available to the embassy. we're told there's only one entrance, right here, and obviously that's not an option. the building is kplaetdly surrounded by -- completely surrounded by police police. they're in the streets, alleys, side streets. if anyone tried to take assange to a waiting car, the police would get him. the police are reported to be monitoring the so-called communal areas of the building, the hallways and elevators, preventing assange from taking an elevator up to the roof where a helicopter could pick him up. police can monitor the hallways and envators because the embassy -- elevators because the embassy is only on the first floor, and not only that, here where the window is. assange can barely step into a hallway without risking apprehension. if he did get to a car, there are airports, large and small, in every direction. but experts say once he got to one of those, he could easily be captured. he co

we begin today's show with a road julian assange. on sunday, he made his first public appearance since he took refuge two months ago inside ecuador's embassy in london just days after he was granted asylum. he is attempting to avoid extradition to sweden for questioning over sex crime accusations because he fears sweden will extradite him to the united states to face charges over the leaking of secret u.s. military and diplomatic files. chilean assange spoke from a window on a small balcony and the second floor of the ecuadorean embassy, careful not to step onto the balcony, which is considered outside the legal boundaries of the embassy. dozens of police officers looked on. british authorities have threatened to raid the embassy and are refusing to allow julian assange safe passage out of the country to ecuador. in his nine-minute address, julian assange called on president obama to abandon what he described as "war on whistleblowers." >> i am here today because i cannot be there with you today. but think you for coming. thank you f

assange asylum but there is a hitch. he is holed up with britain saying they have no intentions for him to leave the country. there is urgent meeting to take place next week. we have more on this. >> outside of the ecuadoran embassy this morning, feelings were running high against britain and for julian assange. there were some scuffles and few arrests. people that see him as a man of information and one facing persecution. but it's mr. assange that is aing they have a duty to arrest. today's ecuador's government accused britain of continuing bullying. >> ecuador believes that the fears are genuine. he could be the victim of political persecution. because of his freedom of expression and of the press. and this abuse could be the power of a country. and so we have decided to provide asylum for mr. assange. >> the news that julian assange has been provided asylum and this crowd is delighted for the outcome they wanted. but the britain government says this changes nothing. >> in our law where all options of appeal they are

breaking news this hour julian assange is granted asylum by at court all the country's foreign ministers that whistleblowers fears of political prosecution are legitimate while slamming britain's threat to storm acars embassy in london to arrest the we keep its editor. and near the ecuadorian embassy crowds are cheering the decision despite london police earlier detaining several supporters of julian assange. and in bahrain another so-called enemy of the day and one of the passengers recent interview we've not real ridge ob has been jailed for three years for taking part in antigovernment gatherings. they're watching our t.v. live from moscow with me to say starting off straight to our breaking news story julian assange has been granted political asylum by ecuador the country's foreign minister made the announcement a stressing of the whistleblowers fears of being politically prosecuted and justified artie's a lower smith is following the developments outside the ecuadorian embassy in live live from london for us now laura so what's the mood now at the embassy. well there's still an awfu

in london police detaining several supporters of julian assange. and. the state and one of a recent. job jailed for three years for taking. government gatherings. just after seven o'clock in the evening moscow time this is he with me rule. breaking news story for you this hour julian assange has been granted political asylum by ecuador the country's foreign minister made the announcement stressing the whistleblowers fears of being politically prosecuted are justified laura smith is following developments outside the ecuadorian embassy in london for us. there's a lot of supporters a lot of just passes by one wonders whether they were actually on their way to learn the wii and have for a long time very interested in the story very interested to know what's happened we say that's the reaction hair on the ground we haven't spoken directly stupid as always but we do understand that he's released a statement calling this asylum decision a significant victory we have also had a reaction to the very very strong statement by the acts of jewelry and the foreign m

could give assange a fair trial. the ecuadorian government, after carrying out a fair evaluation of the situation, explain to us by mr. assange and listening to his own arguments, shares his fears and assumes there is evidence which allows us to presume that he could face political persecution if the appropriate measures are not taken. assange fears that sweden could extradite him to the united states where he could potentially face charges over the publications of thousands of controversial diplomatic cables. in reaction, the british foreign secretary reaffirmed his commitment to this country's commitment to extraditing julian assange. >> we will not allow mr. assange safe passage out of the united kingdom, nor is there any legal basis for us to do so. am i to was also quick to squash rumors that local police were preparing to move on the embassy. >> anyone who has seen our note knows there is no threat here to storm the embassy. we are talking about an act of parliament in this country, which stresses that it must

and that was before assange began publishing u.s.ecrets, provoking what he calls threatening statements from people close to power. >> what statements are you referring to? >> the statements by the vice president biden saying, for instance, that i was a high-tech terrorist, sarah palin calling to our organization to be dealt with like the taliban and be hunted down. there's calls either for my assassination or the assassination of my staff or for us to be kidnapped and renditioned back to the united states to be executed. >> well, as you know, we have a first amendment and people can say whatever they want, including politicians. i don't think that many people in the united states took seriously the idea that you were a terrorist. >> i would like to believe that. on the other hand, the incitements to murder are a serious issue. and unfortunately, there is a portion of the population that will believe in them and may carry them out. >> if nothing else, wikileaks is the latest demonstration that a small group of people with a powerful

interviewed assange on his talk show. and during that interview, creigh said that if assange ever needed asylum, he was welcome in ecuador. he may not have expected assange to take him up on the offer, but that's what happened. he walked in and claimed asylum. he's been granted asylum, but he can't get to ecuador without traveling through british territory first and facing arrest. >> they became fast friends it sounds like. thank you very much, appreciate that. >>> to syria where u.n. observers will leave the country four months after they arrived as a mandate to monitor a cease-fire. the mandate expires today even as the deal between the government and rebels to stop fighting never happened. the u.n. says it will maintain a presence after the observers leave. >>> separately amid conflicting reports about his defection, the exact location of the syrian vice president is unknown. prayers marking the end of ramadan fasting could be telling. it shows senior leadership in attendance including president bashar al assad. the vi

on december 7, 2010 assange is arrested in london.one of the women says that while they were having sex once he didn't use a condom. pinochet 3,000 dead, they didn't extradite him. assange is alleged to not have used a condom. this is what one of the so-called victims said. it's quite wrong that we were afraid of him. he is not violent. it's good we have an international manhunt against him. and she said, the charges against assange were of course not orchestrated by the pentagon until we dropped the charge and then this was this pressure to bring the charges back on. oh, my god look at what this guy is it and that guy did. scott ritter said that he had no weapons of mass destruction and sex charge. sex charge after sex charge. julian, i can't believe he had that kind of sex. he must be guilty. this is sickening. u.s. government, cut the crap, okay. you don't want your horrible secrets revealed? i got a crazy idea for you. don't do those horrible acts. i'm an american. i chose to be an american citizen because i love this country and

that in our view we are following a developing story out of aqua door in a major victory for julian assange president but i have granted the wiki leaks co-founder a political asylum and as has the international community buzzing with the latest and look at the bigger implications. he has provided the public with truth exposing corruption and illegality so why exactly do members of america's media banking and political world view julian assange as the enemy details from new york coming up. really in a sausage still receiving strong support from several influential elites around the world a remote village do in los angeles the big names standing behind the whistleblower coming up in a live report. it's thursday august sixteenth five pm here in washington d.c. i'm liz wahl and you're watching r t let's get right today's top story we began with the latest twist in the case of wiki leaks whistleblower julian a songe we've received word that ecuador has granted him asylum and was arrested in london back in december of two thousand and ten and has been going through legal battles there ever since

we begin today with the latest twist in the case of wiki leaks whistleblower julian assange on we've received word that ecuador has granted him asylum and was arrested in london back in december of two thousand and ten and has been going through legal battles there ever since he's been held up at the ecuadorian embassy in london for nearly two months awaiting president quote he has decision today ok dorian president rafael correa granted asylum to us on the two men have spoken to each other several times over the past few years including an end up interview on julianna saunders show he's been fighting extradition to sweden where he faces questioning over alleged sex crimes songe has offered several times to be interviewed over the phone or at the swedish embassy but officials rejected that offer assad has express. yes that his ultimate fear is that if he is extradited to sweden that will lead to him being extradited to the united states where he believes he will be prosecuted for releasing hundreds of thousands of classified documents on wiki leaks also released the video you see her

breaking news at this hour on our excede julian assange is granted asylum by at her door the country's foreign minister said the whistleblowers fears of political prosecution all legitimate boss levee breaches a threat to storm apparatus embassy in london to arrest the iraqi be said. and to be the ecuadorian embassy crowds are cheering the decision despite london police earlier detaining several supporters of julian assange. and in bahrain another so-called enemy of the states and one of us on just recent interview reason that bill regev has been jailed for three years for taking part in antigovernment gatherings. you're watching r t a live from moscow straight to our breaking news story julian assange has been granted political asylum by ecuador the country's foreign minister made the announcement a stressing the whistleblowers fears of being politically persecuted are justified artie's laura smith has been following the developments all sides the ecuadorian embassy in london. the reaction from us and his supporters here was unequivocal when his asylum was finally granted by ecuador t

breaking news for you this hour julian assange is granted asylum by ecuador the country's foreign minister said that whistleblowers fears of political prosecution . all slamming britain's threat to storm ecuador's embassy in london to arrest the week said it's. kind of very near to the ecuadorian embassy cheering the decision despite london police detaining several supporters of julian assange. and in the buff rain and other so-called enemy of the state and one of a saunders recent interview not deal with jail for three years for taking part in government gatherings. just after five pm here in moscow this is on the with me rule research a straight to our breaking news story for you this hour julian assange has been granted political asylum by ecuador and the country's foreign minister made the announcement just less than an hour ago stressing that the whistleblowers fears of being politically prosecuted justified and very shortly here on out he will catch up with our correspondent laura smith who is right outside the ecuadorian embassy in london following the latest developments but when i

ecuador gets overwhelming support from fellow american nations in a trial with britain over julian assange condemning efforts to undermine the sanctity of embassies. egypt's new leader extends a hand of friendship to china and iran in a just scene as the country breaking away from washington its influence. up next on our t.v. ecuador's president exclusively shares his view on how the standoff with britain might pan out and what price this country may pay for backing julian assange. why did ecuador get involved in all this by standing up for julian assange the country is exposing itself to risk according to the media one of the reasons for the delay in granting him asylum was ecuador's fear of a possible u.s. response is this true. or not at all we just wanted to address the request in a very thorough and responsible way we look to the motivations for mr sanders asylum did looked into the charges brought against him in sweden reviewed u.k. law as well as international law and of course we went over our own legislation then we made a responsible decision just as we promised originally after

free assange. but it doesn't happen without assange.iled, and even when under house arrest he's put out files about syria and private intelligence firms. the idea is what happens next. >> i just want go next. to me the issue is this. it's a very long distance from the principle that there should be some secrecy, that, you know, government should be able to keep some secrets, and the massive, massive explosion of secrecy that we have seen in this country since 9/11 and since the national security act passed under truman during the cold war. there's a lodge way from the principle to the abstract. let's remember. literally, if i'm not mistaken, millions of people had access to what was leaked, right? >> the interests of journalists and the interest of governments can't be the same. you know, you're supposed to -- >> it's adversarial. >> right. the same way prosecutors and defendants are adversarial. julian assange is on the side of the journalists. they need to do a better job of keeping their secrets. >> josh, you get the last words. >> d

why did ecuador get involved in all this by standing up for julian assange the country is exposing itself to risk according to the media one of the reasons for the delay in granting him asylum was ecuador's fear of a possible u.s. response is this true. or not a tool we just wanted to address the request in a very thorough and responsible way we'll look to the motivations for mr sanchez asylum did looked into the charges brought against him in sweden were reviewed u.k. law as well as international law and of course we went to a religious lation then we made a responsible decision just as we promised originally after the olympics specifically because they were taking place in london and not because of fear of reprisals which we knew might follow them we will always be guided by principles and values not fear. what consequences might ecuador face after granting asylum to julian assange which normally such a decision shouldn't have any consequences that is if all countries respect international law which clearly says that the state has the right to grant asylum how many times has sweden gran

. >> julien assange has been granted asylum in ecuador. we ask where he goes from here. >> and life after the party -- one empoverished london district is struggling with a mixed legacy from the olympic games. hello. the narrative in syria these days is familiar to us. we have seen the violence, accounts conflicting on what is going on, and watch people flee to safety across the border. let's find out what it looks like to the people " 18 months ago were first to call for demonstrations in damascus. >> damascus, january, 2011. news reaches the syrian capital of the demonstrations in tahrir square in cairo. six long sets -- six young syrians -- muslims and christians -- post an invitation on facebook 28 and a demonstration of support -- to attend a demonstration of support. >> the conditions have already been freed. the egyptians were on their way to be free. we thought it was our turn to be free, too. >> only syrian -- friendly russian tv recorded it. first, the authorities did not object. they, too, supported the movement to oppose egypt'

decided to grant asylum to julian assange. >> foreign minister said ecuadorian leaders believe assange's fears of political persecution are legitimate and his human rights might be violated. his supporters gathered in front of the embassy. they cheered when they heard the ecuadorian government's decision. >> julian assange freedom fighter! british police are on stand by around the building. they could arrest assange if he tries to leave the grounds. british foreign secretary william hague said his government was legally obligated to extradite assange to sweden. >> under our law, with mr. assange having exhaust ed all options of appeal, we will not allow him safe pass acknowledges out of the united kingdom. >> ecuador says british counterparts demand they hand over assange. or police would enter the embassy. the ecuadorians call that an open threat and violation of diplomatic immunity. >>> the u.n. security council has decided to end its observer mission in syria. the decision represents the international body's failure to halt violence that killed more than 17,000 people. nhk world's wid

the decision to spied london police earlier detaining several supporters of julian assange. also in bahrain another so-called enemy of the state and one of us on this a recent interview reasonable ridge ab has been jailed for three years for taking part in antigovernment gatherings. you're watching r t live from moscow with me tom would say our top story today julian a sancia has been granted political asylum by ecuador the country's foreign minister made the announcement a stressing the whistleblower as fears of being polluted past acute are justified smith has been following the developments outside the ecuadorian embassy in london . the reaction from us and his supporters here was unequivocal when his asylum was finally granted by ecuador that which is that what chance there was a big contingent from the ecuadorian community actually saying hands off. that's still behind me still chanting but not everyone was as funny as the statement from the foreign and commonwealth office they said that they were disappointed and the foreign secretary william hague later made a stateme

why is julian assange hiding in the ecuadorian embassy in london? assange as you know is wanted for questioning in sweden with respect to sexual abuse charges. julian had worked feverishly to try to make sure that he didn't actually have to go to sweden for that questioning, and the reason was is that julian fears persecution in the united states with respect to his leaking activity. >> so you don't think and he doesn't think that the investigation in sweden is simply about the charges -- >> we can say almost categorically that it's not. the reason why we know that is that when mr. assange asked sweden to make assurances that if he were to go to sweden that he would not be extradited to the united states, sweden would not agree to that. when the ecuadorian embassy -- government asked the uk and sweden to make assurances that mr. assange would not be extradited to the united states, they wouldn't agree to that, either. so it seems clear to us in addition to the fact that we hear a secret indictment has already been issued, that the end game here is b

we decided to grant asylum to julian assange. i thought that was. a sellers' called it a significant victory and his mouth was full so it. sounding like it will automatically encourage the government. but not everyone was pleased the u.k. foreign and commonwealth office called the decision disappointing and foreign secretary william hague said it changed nothing it does not change the fundamentals of the case we will not allow. safe passage out of the united kingdom nor is there any legal basis for us to do so hague also denied any suggestion that british police would storm the embassy so for an territory under international law to arrest but that's not what ecuador inferred from a letter it says was delivered through the british embassy in quito in response that could or played hardball. when it was no national law could be used in this way in any intrusive way in any diplomatic facilities any place in the world it shouldn't be used to threaten or blackmail the sovereignty of any other country and they called a summit to try to deal with this threa

his political views are in line with assange. britain for their long-running dispute over the falklands with argentina, actually called for sanctions against great britain. >> what is the upside for ecuador? they are looking past the actual indictment against julian assange regarding a sexual assault case. what country grants asylum for sexual assault? obviously, what they are doing is looking to other issues. >> there is messaging there. >> and word is that sweden will send him to the u.s. >> you have seen movies about people living in embassies for years. >> how long could you do it, i wonder? >> i don't think in london not very long. i don't think it lasts forever. >> it's a

." >> wikileaks founder julian assange, a diplomatic ro w. protests outside ecuador embassy in london as there are threats tour arrest mr. astonished -- to arrest mr. astsange. hello and welcome to gmt. i'm george alagiah. pakistan both the military under tax. they stormed the air force base near islamabad. the duke of edinburgh is being treated for a bladder infection, the third time he's been in the hospital in less than a year. it's midday in london, 7:00 in the morning in washington, 6:00 in the morning in quito, ecuador, where an announcement is expected on whether to grant political asylum to wikileaks founder julian assange. he is in the country posing london embassy to avoid extradition to sweden to face sexual assault allegations. he says the case is politically motivated. even before the decision is made public, it has led to a diplomatic row between britain and del prado. -- between britain and ecuador. >> it is nearly two months since julian assange enter this building in london which houses the embassy of ecuador. he asked for as

julian assange coming up. and governor mitt romney pulls out -- i should say pulls out the white house in his attempt to explain the medicare plan. while the president responds to accusations that he is running a dirty campaign. and the men who survived this crash off the side of pike's peak will be in studio with us live. wonder what that felt like. we will certainly find out unless breaking news changes everything on "studio b." first from fox at 3:00, a high stakes international standoff involving the founder of the controversial website, wikileaks, julian assange. the former computer hacker is currently holed up in the ecuador embassy in london. he isn't whatted in sweden to answer to allegations of rape and sexual assault. but julian assange says that is a cover story to get him to the united states and face prosecution on the whole wikileaks drama. that's because the wikileaks website released thousands if not tens of hundreds of thousands of secret u.s. documents related to the wars in iraq and afghanis

ecuador standing by its decision to grant asylum to wiki leaks founder julian assange she was resisting britain's efforts to extradite him to sweden to face sex crime claims in an exclusive interview with r.t. spanish channel president now explains the choice he made and says what he thinks britain's motives really. why did ecuador get involved in all this by standing up for julian assange the country is exposing itself to risk according to the media one of the reasons for the delay in granting him asylum was ecuador's fear the possible u.s. response is this true or not at all we just wanted to address the request in a very thorough and responsible way we look to the motivations for mr sanders asylum bid looked into the charges brought against him in sweden reviewed u.k. law as well as international law and of course we went over our own legislation then we made a responsible decision just as we promised originally after the olympics specifically because they were taking place in london and not because of fear of reprisals which we knew might follow them we will always be guided by prin

breaking news this hour julian assange is granted asylum by the country's foreign minister said it was a blow is fears of political prosecution knowledge it amid was slamming britain's dread to storm and produce embassy in london to rest of the headset. and near the ecuadorian embassy crowds are cheering the decision despite london police earlier detaining several supporters of julian assange. and to embrace another so-called enemy of the state and one of us songes a recent interview reason to be rejected has been jailed for three years for taking part in antigovernment gatherings. here watching our t.v. strange show our breaking news story julian assange has been granted political asylum by ecuador the country's foreign minister made the announcement as stressing the whistleblowers fears of being politically persecuted are justified laura smith has been following the developments outside the ecuadorian embassy in london. the reaction from our soldiers supporters here was unequivocal when his asylum was finally granted by ecuador that which is that what chance there was a big contingen

that's right we haven't been able to talk to julian assange himself he's obviously got to stay in the building behind a con come out but we have seen a statement released by wiki leaks the very scathing statements about the british government's proposed actions they say there's no basis for being able to raise the embassy under international law and it certainly would be a completely unprecedented move desperate if you like they say it would be a transgression of the sanctity of embassies and a shameful act. and they also condemn what they're calling the results of intimidation they say that the only reason the person threatened to do this is to force ecuador into making a decision that would be favorable to them i.e. not granting asylum a tool to issue a scathing indictment if william hague the foreign secretary who's in charge of the country at the may because the prime minister and deputy prime minister have gone on holiday that william hague and the foreign office of pool of course be in charge of negotiations with that and we can be saying he's made a complete mess of that and if