WikiLeaks founder Assange's mum says Oz PM is a US sycophant

Townsville (Queensland, Australia), Feb.1 (ANI): The mother of the founder of the whistle blowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange has launched a scathing attack on Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, calling her a "sycophant" of the United States.

Christine Assange said Gillard's views about her son's activities are costing her support within her party and among voters who see the democratic value of his work.

The Age quoted her as telling AAP that Gillard has failed to show Australians that she is a guardian of free speech, instead taking a fawning approach to satisfy Australia's key ally, the United States.

Christine Assange made the comments as her son Julian prepares to face a London court on Monday for the start of legal proceedings to have him extradited to Sweden to face possible sexual assault charges.

Supporters claim the charges have been trumped up to silence him.

Mrs. Assange said the federal government must facilitate her son's return to Australia and give an iron-clad guarantee it won't hand him over to Washington.

The Obama administration is looking at whether the whistleblower can be charged over the release of classified documents on his WikiLeaks website. (ANI)