WikiLeaks broke no laws in Australia, says PM

Police in Australia have concluded that WikiLeaks and its Australian-born founder Julian Assange have not broken any laws in his home country, the prime minister announced today.

The government ordered the Australian Federal Police to determine whether the website broke any Australian laws by publishing sensitive US diplomatic cables that have embarrassed and outraged Washington.

"We have received the advice and the advice is that there has been no breaches of Australian law," premier Julia Gillard told reporters.

US authorities are investigating WikiLeaks over the publication of the documents, which Washington says are damaging to its national interests.

Ms Gillard said the leaking of the documents was "clearly an illegal act", adding that the leak was being investigated by US authorities.

Australian officials have said they are assisting US authorities in that investigation.

Ms Gillard also said that Assange, who is in Britain fighting against extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations, would be given consular assistance like any other Australian citizen.

She repeated her condemnation of the publication of the US diplomatic documents as highly irresponsible.