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Assange's Internet access "cut off" by Ecuador: Wikileaks

Xinhua, October 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Wikileaks said on Monday that its founder Julian Assange's Internet access was cut off by the government of Ecuador when he was taking asylum at the country's embassy in London.

"We can confirm Ecuador cut off Assange's Internet access Saturday, 5 p.m. GMT, shortly after the publication of Hillary Clinton's Goldman Sachs speeches," the anti-secrecy group said on Twitter.

Earlier on Saturday, Wikileaks released three transcripts of Clinton's paid speeches to Goldman Sachs. According to the Associated Press, those were part of the tranche of emails hacked from the accounts of John Podesta, campaign chairman for the Democratic nominee.

The Australian transparency activist has been holed up at the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition over sex assault allegations.

In a brief statement, the Ecuadorean Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its decision on Monday to grant Assange asylum, but did not mention the Internet shutdown.

"Faced with the speculation of the last few hours, the Government of Ecuador ratifies the validity of the asylum granted to Julian Assange four years ago," said the ministry.

"We reaffirm that his protection by the Ecuadorean state will continue while the circumstances that led to the granting of asylum remain." Endi