Assange: UK should offer 'hero' Snowden asylum

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange today described the ex-CIA employee who leaked secret US surveillance details as a “hero” and said the British Government should be offering him asylum there.

Mr Assange, who has been inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for almost a year, spoke out after reports that the UK government has warned airlines not to allow Edward Snowden to fly to Britain.

The Associated Press news agency reported seeing a document at a Thai airport telling carriers to stop Edward Snowden, 29, boarding any flights.

Mr Assange said: “The British Government should be offering Mr Snowden asylum, not excluding him from their borders. Edward Snowden is a hero – his revelations disclose something that is important to almost everyone in the world.

“I am sure if you asked the people of the UK what they wanted, they would be in favour of protecting Mr Snowden.

“The UK doesn’t want to say no to the US under any circumstances – not in my case, and not in the case of Mr Snowden.”

The Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino, is making a brief visit to the UK from Sunday, meeting Mr Assange and having talks with Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday.

Mr Assange arrived at the Embassy on June 19 last year and has since been granted political asylum.

He is wanted for questioning about allegations of sexual offences in Sweden - which he denies – but fears being extradited to the United States.