US ambassador flags potential Julian Assange plea deal

The United States' Australian envoy has indicated there could be a "resolution" to the ongoing detention of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is fighting extradition to the United States from the United Kingdom to face spying charges.

The Australian has battled in British courts for years to avoid being sent to the US, where he faces 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks' publication of classified diplomatic and military documents more than a decade ago.

The latest blow to the Australian's hopes came earlier this month when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back against Australian calls for an end to the Assange prosecution.

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"Mr Assange was charged with very serious criminal conduct in the United States in connection with his alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of our country," Blinken said at the time.

But US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, who met with Assange supporters at Parliament House in June, has now indicated a potential plea deal could allow him to return to Australia.

Asked by the Sydney Morning Herald whether a diplomatic outcome could be reached, she said "it's not really a diplomatic issue, but I think that there absolutely could be a resolution".

In comments published on Monday, she said "there is a way to resolve it" but stressed any potential agreement was "up to the Justice Department".

- With Associated Press

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