Wikileaks to release ‘CIA paper’

The controversial whistleblower website announces plans to release new documents.

Julian Assange
Assange says recent accusations made against him are part of a 'smear campaign' [Reuters]

The site, which has also previously leaked information leading to shocking revelations in places ranging from Iraq to Iceland, did not provide any further details about the CIA paper it planned to release.

Investigation continues

Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, has also been at the centre of controversy in recent days.

A Swedish prosecutor said on Wednesday she will continue investigating an accusation of molestation against Assange but has dismissed another case that was initially labelled a suspected rape.
 
Assange has denied both allegations.
 
Eva Finne, Sweden’s chief prosecutor, said she had questioned the woman who had filed the rape complaint and decided that there were no grounds to suspect Assange of any type of crime in that case.
 
In the other case, which involved a different woman, Finne said the “suspicion of molestation remains” and that Assange would be questioned in the investigation.
 
The warrant and the rape charge were dropped on Saturday.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Stockholm, Finne said: “I find that there is a suspicion of the crime [of molestation] and we will investigate.

“Molestation is a crime that normally [receives] a fine. The statute says that you can get a fine or imprisonment up to one year, but the normal punishment for molestation is a fine.

“I expect that his [Assange’s] lawyer will arrrange a time with the police for a hearing.”

‘Smear campaign’
 
Assange, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera English on Sunday, said the accusations are part of a smear campaign to discredit Wikileaks.
 
He said that he had been forewarned by Australian intelligence on August 11 to expect a campaign against him, though it was unclear who was behind it.
 
“It is clearly a smear campaign … the only question is who was involved,” Assange, who is an Australian national, said.
 
“We can have some suspicions about who would benefit, but without direct evidence I would not be willing to make a direct allegation.”
 
Assange said that the accusations were completely untrue and that this was just one of many attempts to discredit him.
 
“This is the first sexual related we’ve had, but we have seen 14 fabricated documents, for example, that have appeared in various places about this organisation which have been shown to be clear fakes,” he said.
 
“So there are significant forces pushing to perceive things in a particular way.”

Assange has hired Leif Silbersky, one of Sweden’s top defence lawyers, to represent him.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies