Wikileaks' Assange can come home: top Aussie official

Australia's Attorney-General Robert McClelland hinted that the government would not stop WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from coming home. According to a spokesperson of McClelland, the Attorney-General stated that the 39-year-old Australian is 'entitled' to come home and could also avail consular assistance overseas.

Mr. Assange, like every Australian citizen, has rights, and nothing is stopping him from coming home to Australia, the spokesperson said quoting McClelland on Monday.

However, the spokesperson termed the latest leaks as 'irresponsible' and maintained that the Government will cooperate with the US in the investigation of the case. He also stated that the publications of sensitive information on national security could compromise the safety of individuals.

But equally he is aware that Australia has obligations pursuant to agreements we have signed that ensure we will provide mutual assistance to countries investigating criminal law enforcement matters, he said.

The response from the Attorney-General came after Assange claimed that the Australian government had made it clear that his return to the country would be impossible.

This brings into question what does it mean to be an Australian citizen -- does that mean anything at all? Assange responded to a question by a reader in the Guardian on Friday.

Last week, the France-based Interpol issued a Red Notice for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. The international police organization charged Assange of sex crimes and put him on its most wanted list. Assange was wanted for questioning over rape allegations against him. Australian government is also looking into the issue of whether Wikileaks breached any of the country's laws. Wikileaks has dismissed the allegations against Assange as part of a smear campaign. Last month, the website began publishing close to 250,000 US diplomatic cables.