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TEHRAN, Feb 23 - Australia has confirmed that Julian Assange has a valid passport, a key development for the Wikileaks founder, who fears that Ecuador seeks to end his asylum in its London embassy and extradite him to the United States.
FILE PHOTO: Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange demonstrate in front of presidential
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -The new passport, which would allow Assange, who is in failing health, to return to Australia, was issued in September last year but remained unreported until Saturday. His previous passport had expired.
Senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Thursday told a Senate estimates hearing that Assange had a valid passport, reiterating a statement from last October.
Senator Rex Patrick of minority party Centre Alliance, who has taken up Assange’s cause in parliament, asked department officials if they had talked to the United States about safe passage for Assange if he left the embassy.
James Larsen, the department’s chief legal officer, said he was not aware of any U.S. proceedings against Assange and so there was nothing to discuss.
“I don’t have a record before me of what our engagement with the United States is specifically concerning Mr Assange,” he said.
Source: Reuters
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