Wikileaks founder believes Pentagon behind rape claim

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange said he believed the Pentagon could be behind a rape allegation against him that was swiftly dropped by Swedish authorities.

His comments, published yesterday, came as prosecutors justified their treatment of the 39-year-old Australian, whose whistleblowing website is embroiled in a row with Washington over the publication of secret Afghan war documents.

The Aftonbladet newspaper quoted Assange as saying he did not know who was “hiding behind” the rape claim, which prompted prosecutors to issue a warrant for his arrest on Friday but which was cancelled the following day.