UK Lib-Dem Leader Calls on Assange to Surrender After US Cuts Manning Jail Term

© AP Photo / Kirsty WigglesworthWikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London (File)
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London (File) - Sputnik International
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UK Liberal Democrats party leader Tim Farron on Wednesday called on WikiLeaks website founder Julian Assange to live up to his promise to surrender himself to authorities after the commuting of US whistleblower Chelsea Manning's sentence in the United States.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Manning, who leaked secret US documents to WikiLeaks, had his sentence commuted by the White House on Tuesday. The whistleblower, who was sentenced for 35 years in jail in 2013 over charges related to releasing US classified government information, is now due to walk free on May 17. Earlier in January, WikiLeaks stated that Assange would agree to be extradited to the United States if President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency.

"Enough is enough, Julian Assange needs to come out. Wikileaks tweeted saying he will agree to US extradition if Manning were granted clemency. That, rightly, has happened. Now Assange needs to live his words and stop making taxpayers fork out millions while he hides in the embassy," Farron said, as quoted by the Independent newspaper.

A combination made on July 3, 2013 shows a file picture of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (L) taken on June 7, 2013 in London and a still frame grab recorded on June 6, 2013 in Hong Kong of former US agent of the National Security Agency, Edward Snowden - Sputnik International
After Manning's Reprieve, Attention Turns to Fate of Snowden and Assange
Manning was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq, while serving in the US army. Then-Bradley Manning admitted disclosing classified information to WikiLeaks, concerning deaths among civilians caused by US airstrikes, Guantanamo prisoners and about 250,000 US diplomatic letters.

Assange has been residing at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012 for fear of being extradited to Sweden where he has been accused of rape. He denies the allegations, claiming they are a ruse organized by Washington to hand him over to the United States.

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