Ecuador cuts Assange’s Internet access

WikiLeaks has said that its founder Julian Assange’s Internet was shut down by the government of Ecuador, deflecting blame from the US or British governments which have sparred with Assange for releasing sensitive material.

“We can confirm Ecuador cut off Assange’s Internet access shortly after publication of Hillary Clinton’s Goldman Sachs speechs ,” the statement said.

“We have activated the appropriate contingency plans,” added the Twitter message. A leading TV channel said that the Ecuadoran government offered no immediate comment on the question of internet access, but the country’s foreign minister, Guillaume Long, said Assange remained under government protection.

The government of leftist President Rafael Correa has long backed Assange’s right to free speech, though the WikiLeaks saga has caused some strain in relations with the US. Correa, whose term will end next year, has said he is behind Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who he says he knows personally, in the US presidential election.

“For the good of the US and the world I would like Hillary to win,” Correa told media.