US President Joe Biden has said that he is considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The country’s parliament recently passed a measure – backed by PM Anthony Albanese – calling for the return of Mr Assange to his native Australia.
The US wants to extradite the 52-year-old from the UK on criminal charges over the leaking of military records.
Mr Assange denies the charges, saying the leaks were an act of journalism.
The president was asked about Australia’s request on Wednesday and said: “We’re considering it.”
The measure passed the Australian parliament in February. Mr Albanese told MPs: “People will have a range of views about Mr Assange’s conduct… But regardless of where people stand, this thing cannot just go on and on and on indefinitely.”
Mr Albanese on Thursday said Mr Biden’s comments were “encouraging” and he was “increasingly optimistic about an outcome”.
“We want Mr Assange to be able to return home,” he told Sky News Australia.
Mr Assange, 52, is fighting extradition in the UK courts.
The extradition was put on hold in March after London’s High Court said the United States must provide assurances he would not face the death penalty.
The High Court is due to evaluate any responses from the US authorities at the end of May.
Read more via BBC
