Australian lawmakers approve motion calling for the release of WikiLeaks founder

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives has ramped up pressure on the United States and Britain to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by passing a motion calling for the Australian citizen to be allowed to return to his home country. Independent lawmaker Andrew Wilkie moved the motion on Wednesday one week ahead of Britain’s High Court of Justice hearing Assange’s appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges. The motion was supported by 86 lawmakers who called on the United States and Britain to bring the “matter to a close so that Mr. Assange can return home to his family in Australia.”