WikiLeaks boss walks out on CNN interview after reporter asks him about HIS private life
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 12:16 PM on 25th October 2010
- Wikileaks in disarray as angry staff walk out over Afghanistan 'obsession'
- British general says lives are being put at risk by revelations
Australian-born Mr Assange walked out on a CNN interview after the reporter had the temerity to ask him about his often terse relationship with fellow workers - and an even more serious personal court case in which he was cleared of sex abuse charges in Sweden.
The 39-year-old ended the interview with CNN's Atika Shubert after she brought up the issue of the charges brought against him - who himself publicised the charges as a 'dirty tricks campaign' by the U.S. government.
Heated interview: CNN reporter Atika Shubert raised the ire of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange when she asked questions about his personal life
Lightning rod: Mr Assange said he expected criticism over the role of WikiLeaks, adding that his role as figurehead was that of a 'lightning rod' for attacks
Today the site was further criticised by the former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, General Tim Cross, who echoed fears that the site's revelations were endangering troops.
He told Radio 4's Today programme: 'Releasing this information does put people at risk. Yes, that is true.'
Mr Assange was formally cleared of sex abuse charges in Sweden last month, ending a puzzling chain of events that started when a Swedish prosecutor issued a warrant for his arrest - then withdrew it.
WAR AT HEART OF WIKILEAKS
Anger at the direction of the now infamous whistle-blowing website has led to a secret split among its key supporters.
At least 12 people involved with the site have left in recent months amid complaints that those in control have become obsessed with the U.S. military.
The principle of the site - to facilitate any leak no matter how small - has been overlooked because the recent tranche of documents has prevented unrelated disclosures from being published.
The encrypted part of the website which allows users to leak documents without fear of being identified has been off-line for four weeks while work on the Iraq logs was carried out.
But Julian Assange told The Independent those who made the accusations were 'peripheral players... spreading poisonous false rumours.'
Former WikiLeaks volunteer Smari MCarthy said the site has been 'incapacitated' by internal wrangling.
She said: 'There were also serious disagreements over the decision not to redact the names of Afghan civilians.'
The submissions part of the website is currently being overhauled, WikiLeaks said, and will be back online soon.
At least 12 people involved with the site have left in recent months amid complaints that those in control have become obsessed with the U.S. military.
The principle of the site - to facilitate any leak no matter how small - has been overlooked because the recent tranche of documents has prevented unrelated disclosures from being published.
The encrypted part of the website which allows users to leak documents without fear of being identified has been off-line for four weeks while work on the Iraq logs was carried out.
But Julian Assange told The Independent those who made the accusations were 'peripheral players... spreading poisonous false rumours.'
Former WikiLeaks volunteer Smari MCarthy said the site has been 'incapacitated' by internal wrangling.
She said: 'There were also serious disagreements over the decision not to redact the names of Afghan civilians.'
The submissions part of the website is currently being overhauled, WikiLeaks said, and will be back online soon.
At the time both Mr Assange and WikiLeaks suggested the accusations were part of a smear campaign.
But when drawn on the subject by Ms Shubert, Mr Assange said: 'I'm going to walk if you're going to contaminate this extremely serious interview with questions about my personal life.'
When pressed on the issue, he said: 'It's completely disgusting, Atika. I'm going to walk if you're going to contaminate us revealing the deaths of 104,000 people with attacks against my person.'
Then Ms Shubert said: 'I'm not. What I'm asking is if you that this is an attack on WikiLeaks.'
That is when Mr Assange removed his microphone and walked out.
Mr Assange had started to get uncomfortable earlier in the interview when Ms Shubert suggested that former staff had quit due to internal squabbling - and his personality 'eclipsing' the work of the organisation.
Ms Shubert said: 'This criticism that the story around you is eclipsing the work of WikiLeaks... would you consider stepping aside.'
Scroll down to watch the interview
Going... going: After Ms Shubert asked him about charges he was formally cleared of last month - charges he himself had branded a smear campaign, Mr Assange walked out
Gone: Mr Assange would not be drawn on his personal life, even after Ms Shubert qualified her question by asking whether he thought it was a broader smear campaign against WikiLeaks
When Ms Shubert then brought up the issue of the Swedish charges, Mr Assange cut her off and said 'I am not going to talk about that'n - and then repeatedly warned 'I'm going to walk' before actually doing so.
As he left Ms Shubert was heard to say: 'I had to ask that question.'
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