The controversial WikiLeaks website pushed ahead with its disclosure of secret diplomatic cables today, despite the arrest of its founder.
The latest material – detailing tense negotiations between Britain and Libya over the release of the Lockerbie bomber – emerged after Julian Assange was refused bail pending an extradition case.
Swedish prosecutors have requested Mr Assange be handed over to be tried for alleged sexual assaults.
But Mark Stephens, the 39-year-old Australian’s lawyer, has vowed to fight the extradition bid, dismissing it as politically motivated, and another application for bail will be made when he appears in court again on Tuesday.
Mr Stephens insisted jailing Mr Assange, who is thought to be in London’s Wandsworth Prison, would have no effect on the publication of the sensitive missives penned by US diplomats.
“We have seen Mr Assange remanded in custody. That was unfortunate, but WikiLeaks will continue. WikiLeaks is many thousands of journalists reporting news around the world,” he said.
“We are on cable 301 today and and I want to see the rest of those 250,000 cables coming out so full information is available.”
Among the latest revelations are that the British government feared Libya would take “harsh and immediate action” against its interests if the Lockerbie bomber died in prison.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi made “thuggish” threats to halt all trade deals with the UK and harass embassy staff if Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was not freed, according to material passed to the Guardian by WikiLeaks.
Tripoli also offered a “parade of treats” to the Scottish devolved administration if it let the convicted mass killer go – although the incentives were refused.
The American charge d’affaires in London, Richard LeBaron, wrote in a cable to his bosses in October 2008: “The Libyans have told HMG (Her Majesty’s Government) flat out that there will be ’enormous repercussions’ for the UK-Libya bilateral relationship if Megrahi’s early release is not handled properly.”
The cable said the US embassy had been given this information by two British officials – Downing Street’s North Africa adviser Ben Lyons and Rob Dixon, his counterpart at the Foreign Office.
The Scottish Government eventually released al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds in August last year because he was suffering from terminal prostate cancer.
However, the move caused fury in the US amid suggestions that it was linked to lucrative British oil deals with Libya.
Al-Megrahi received a hero’s welcome on his return to the country and is still alive more than a year later.
Since becoming prime minister David Cameron has condemned the decision to free al-Megrahi as “completely wrong”.
In January 2009, the US ambassador to Libya, Gene Cretz, confirmed in a cable that “dire” reprisals had been threatened against the UK and London was braced to take “dramatic” steps for self-protection.
The Libyans “convinced UK embassy officers that the consequences if Megrahi were to die in prison... would be harsh, immediate and not easily remedied... specific threats have included the immediate cessation of all UK commercial activity in Libya, a diminishment or severing of political ties and demonstrations against official UK facilities”.
Mr Cretz went on: “(Libyan) officials also implied, but did not directly state, that the welfare of UK diplomats and citizens in Libya would be at risk.”
The British ambassador in Tripoli, Vincent Fean, “expressed relief” when al-Megrahi was released, the US reported.
“He noted that a refusal of Megrahi’s request could have had disastrous implications for British interests in Libya. ’They could have cut us off at the knees,’ Fean bluntly said.”
Mr Cretz cabled that “the regime remains essentially thuggish in its approach”.
He warned that the US itself should not intervene, saying: “If the (US government) publicly opposes al-Megrahi’s release or is perceived to be complicit in a decision to keep al-Megrahi in prison, (America’s Libyan diplomatic) post judges that US interests could face similar consequences.”
Another cable stated that the then justice secretary Jack Straw had indicated al-Megrahi could live for five years.
“Megrahi could have as long as five years to live but the average life expectancy of someone of his age with his condition is 18 months to two years,” the document said.
“Doctors are not sure where he is on the timescale. The Libyans have not yet made a formal application for compassionate release ... but HMG believes that the Scottish may be inclined to grant the request, when it comes, based on conversations between ... (SNP first minister) Alex Salmond and UK justice secretary Jack Straw.
“Although the general practice is to grant compassionate release within three months of end of life, this is not codified in the law, so the release, if granted, could occur sooner.”
There were also suggestions that the UK government had manipulated the rival SNP administration into freeing al-Megrahi against their own interests.
After the release, the US ambassador wrote that the Scots had got out of their depth, saying: “The Scottish government severely underestimated both US government and UK public reaction to its decision ... Alex Salmond has privately indicated that he was ’shocked’.”
Mr Salmond had told the US consul in Edinburgh on August 21 last year that “he and his government had played straight with both the US and the UK government, but implied the UK had not ... he said the Libyan government had offered the Scottish government a parade of treats, ’all of which were turned down’.”
Mr Salmond’s spokesman said the leaks were “diplomatic tittle tattle”, but “vindicated” the Scottish government’s position.
He said: “We were clearly the only ones playing with a straight bat and interested in applying the precepts of Scottish justice, which we continue to do and continue to uphold.” walesonline.co.uk
The latest material – detailing tense negotiations between Britain and Libya over the release of the Lockerbie bomber – emerged after Julian Assange was refused bail pending an extradition case.
Swedish prosecutors have requested Mr Assange be handed over to be tried for alleged sexual assaults.
But Mark Stephens, the 39-year-old Australian’s lawyer, has vowed to fight the extradition bid, dismissing it as politically motivated, and another application for bail will be made when he appears in court again on Tuesday.
Mr Stephens insisted jailing Mr Assange, who is thought to be in London’s Wandsworth Prison, would have no effect on the publication of the sensitive missives penned by US diplomats.
“We have seen Mr Assange remanded in custody. That was unfortunate, but WikiLeaks will continue. WikiLeaks is many thousands of journalists reporting news around the world,” he said.
“We are on cable 301 today and and I want to see the rest of those 250,000 cables coming out so full information is available.”
Among the latest revelations are that the British government feared Libya would take “harsh and immediate action” against its interests if the Lockerbie bomber died in prison.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi made “thuggish” threats to halt all trade deals with the UK and harass embassy staff if Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was not freed, according to material passed to the Guardian by WikiLeaks.
Tripoli also offered a “parade of treats” to the Scottish devolved administration if it let the convicted mass killer go – although the incentives were refused.
The American charge d’affaires in London, Richard LeBaron, wrote in a cable to his bosses in October 2008: “The Libyans have told HMG (Her Majesty’s Government) flat out that there will be ’enormous repercussions’ for the UK-Libya bilateral relationship if Megrahi’s early release is not handled properly.”
The cable said the US embassy had been given this information by two British officials – Downing Street’s North Africa adviser Ben Lyons and Rob Dixon, his counterpart at the Foreign Office.
The Scottish Government eventually released al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds in August last year because he was suffering from terminal prostate cancer.
However, the move caused fury in the US amid suggestions that it was linked to lucrative British oil deals with Libya.
Al-Megrahi received a hero’s welcome on his return to the country and is still alive more than a year later.
Since becoming prime minister David Cameron has condemned the decision to free al-Megrahi as “completely wrong”.
In January 2009, the US ambassador to Libya, Gene Cretz, confirmed in a cable that “dire” reprisals had been threatened against the UK and London was braced to take “dramatic” steps for self-protection.
The Libyans “convinced UK embassy officers that the consequences if Megrahi were to die in prison... would be harsh, immediate and not easily remedied... specific threats have included the immediate cessation of all UK commercial activity in Libya, a diminishment or severing of political ties and demonstrations against official UK facilities”.
Mr Cretz went on: “(Libyan) officials also implied, but did not directly state, that the welfare of UK diplomats and citizens in Libya would be at risk.”
The British ambassador in Tripoli, Vincent Fean, “expressed relief” when al-Megrahi was released, the US reported.
“He noted that a refusal of Megrahi’s request could have had disastrous implications for British interests in Libya. ’They could have cut us off at the knees,’ Fean bluntly said.”
Mr Cretz cabled that “the regime remains essentially thuggish in its approach”.
He warned that the US itself should not intervene, saying: “If the (US government) publicly opposes al-Megrahi’s release or is perceived to be complicit in a decision to keep al-Megrahi in prison, (America’s Libyan diplomatic) post judges that US interests could face similar consequences.”
Another cable stated that the then justice secretary Jack Straw had indicated al-Megrahi could live for five years.
“Megrahi could have as long as five years to live but the average life expectancy of someone of his age with his condition is 18 months to two years,” the document said.
“Doctors are not sure where he is on the timescale. The Libyans have not yet made a formal application for compassionate release ... but HMG believes that the Scottish may be inclined to grant the request, when it comes, based on conversations between ... (SNP first minister) Alex Salmond and UK justice secretary Jack Straw.
“Although the general practice is to grant compassionate release within three months of end of life, this is not codified in the law, so the release, if granted, could occur sooner.”
There were also suggestions that the UK government had manipulated the rival SNP administration into freeing al-Megrahi against their own interests.
After the release, the US ambassador wrote that the Scots had got out of their depth, saying: “The Scottish government severely underestimated both US government and UK public reaction to its decision ... Alex Salmond has privately indicated that he was ’shocked’.”
Mr Salmond had told the US consul in Edinburgh on August 21 last year that “he and his government had played straight with both the US and the UK government, but implied the UK had not ... he said the Libyan government had offered the Scottish government a parade of treats, ’all of which were turned down’.”
Mr Salmond’s spokesman said the leaks were “diplomatic tittle tattle”, but “vindicated” the Scottish government’s position.
He said: “We were clearly the only ones playing with a straight bat and interested in applying the precepts of Scottish justice, which we continue to do and continue to uphold.” walesonline.co.uk
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Bagaimana menurut kamu??? hmmmmmmmm @_^;