WikiLeaks urges U.S. to probe into war crimes
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The United States "must conduct investigations into possible violations" of human rights laws committed by its military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq, said Julian Assange, Spokesperson and Editor-in-Chief of the WikiLeaks, at a press conference held on Thursday in Geneva.
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Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks during a news conference about the internet release of secret documents about the Iraq War, in London October 23, 2010. [Xinhua] |
![Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks during a news conference about the internet release of secret documents about the Iraq War, in London October 23, 2010. [Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20101105/000cf1bdd03f0e3d9d6847.jpg "Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks during a news conference about the internet release of secret documents about the Iraq War, in London October 23, 2010. [Xinhua]")
Many countries that participated the U.S.-led coalition forces, such as Britain and Denmark, have planned or launched probes into the potential human rights abuses committed by their military personnel dispatched to Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It is time that the United States opening up instead of covering up," and "the United States is in grave danger of losing its way", said Assange.
In response to the demands and threats from the Pentagon, requiring the WikiLeaks to destroy its previous and upcoming publications relating to the U.S. military, and cease to deal with the U.S. military whistle-blows, Assange said, "that is a demand that we choose not to follow."
Similarly, the Pentagon had issued demand to media worldwide requiring them not to carry out reports on the material revealed by WikiLeaks. "The demand had made an impact", said Assange, giving the fact that not a single U.S. cable network had reported on that issue.
According to Assange, the WikiLeaks is currently in a difficult situation, as its financing which primarily based on personal donations, is strangled as its on-line donation account being cancelled, after its revelation of the confidential material. And several individuals relating to the organization had been detained by U.S. agencies.
Assange will speak to the UN Intergovernmental Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review which will is scheduled on Friday at UN headquarters in Geneva. During the Review, various countries and NGOs is expected to give assessments on human rights records of the United States.
In July, 2010, the WikiLeaks disclosed over 77,000 records, revealing the intimate detail of the war in Afghanistan. The same type of information, totally 391,832 records, covering the Iraq war, was disclose by the organization on October 22, 2010.
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