Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden on Thursday called the arrest in Britain of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a "dark moment for press freedom" and said it contravened a call by the United Nations to allow him to walk free.
"Assange's critics may cheer, but this is a dark moment for press freedom," Snowden, who lives in Moscow under an asylum deal after he leaked classified information in 2013, wrote on Twitter.
US seeks extradition of Assange
The United States has requested the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, British police said, after they arrested him at the Ecuadorean embassy in London on Thursday.
"Julian Assange, 47, has today, Thursday 11 April, been further arrested on behalf of the United States authorities, at 10:53hrs after his arrival at a central London police station," the police said.
"This is an extradition warrant under Section 73 of the Extradition Act. He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court as soon as possible."
