Defying British diplomatic hints to arrest him, the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange emerged in public on Sunday for the first time in two months since he took refuge in the Ecuador embassy here and asked the US president Barack Obama to end the 'witch-hunt' against his whistle-blower web site.
Assange, 41, appeared in the balcony of the embassy's ground floor flat with nearly 100 police officers and a police helicopter above closely watching every movement. Technically, he remained within Ecuador territory, which prevented police officers from arresting him.
Citing examples of alleged action in various countries against freedom of expression, Assange drew loud applause as he said: 'There is unity in the oppression. There must be absolute unity and determination in the response. I ask President Obama to do the right thing, the United States must renounce its witch-hunt against Wikileaks,' he said. He added: 'The US war on whistle-blowers must end. There must be no more foolish talk about prosecuting any media organisation, be it Wikileaks or the New York Times.'
He has been granted diplomatic asylum by Ecuador while Britain insists it is committed to extradite him to Sweden to face allegations of sex offences, and will not give him safe passage.
Assange stood beside Ecuador's flag as several of his supporters and journalists from across the globe assembled outside the embassy, including the left-wing writer Tariq Ali.
He was greeted by supporters at almost every sentence.
He told his supporters, many of whom had been camping overnight for days outside the embassy: 'I am here today because I cannot be there with you today. But thank you for your resolve, for your generosity of spirit. On Wednesday night after a threat was made on this embassy and police descended on this embassy, you came out to watch over it.'
He also thanked the Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa for the 'courage he has shown,' in granting him asylum.
Britain has refused safe passage to Assange after Ecuador last week granted him 'diplomatic asylum', which is not recognised by Britain.
Assange, 41, appeared in the balcony of the embassy's ground floor flat with nearly 100 police officers and a police helicopter above closely watching every movement. Technically, he remained within Ecuador territory, which prevented police officers from arresting him.
Citing examples of alleged action in various countries against freedom of expression, Assange drew loud applause as he said: 'There is unity in the oppression. There must be absolute unity and determination in the response. I ask President Obama to do the right thing, the United States must renounce its witch-hunt against Wikileaks,' he said. He added: 'The US war on whistle-blowers must end. There must be no more foolish talk about prosecuting any media organisation, be it Wikileaks or the New York Times.'
He has been granted diplomatic asylum by Ecuador while Britain insists it is committed to extradite him to Sweden to face allegations of sex offences, and will not give him safe passage.
Assange stood beside Ecuador's flag as several of his supporters and journalists from across the globe assembled outside the embassy, including the left-wing writer Tariq Ali.
He was greeted by supporters at almost every sentence.
He told his supporters, many of whom had been camping overnight for days outside the embassy: 'I am here today because I cannot be there with you today. But thank you for your resolve, for your generosity of spirit. On Wednesday night after a threat was made on this embassy and police descended on this embassy, you came out to watch over it.'
He also thanked the Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa for the 'courage he has shown,' in granting him asylum.
Britain has refused safe passage to Assange after Ecuador last week granted him 'diplomatic asylum', which is not recognised by Britain.