Australian Foreign Minister blames US for WikiLeaks

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has accused the United States of being responsible for the leak of secret cables through WikiLeaks, and not the organisation’s founder, Julian Assange. Rudd's comments come days after Prime Minister Julia Gillard accused WikiLeaks of "grossly irresponsible" conduct.

Reuters/Babara Walton/Pool

Rudd, who is himself the focus of embarrassing memos recently released by the whistleblowing site, pointed to a "core problem" with US diplomatic security Wednesday.

"When you've got a quarter of a million cables pecking around out there, and on top of that you have people who have had access in the US system to these sorts of cables in excess of two million people, that's where the core of the problem lies," Rudd told
Australian radio.

"In terms of the dissemination in the information, you know, around the region or around the world, whether it's by WikiLeaks, by the Melbourne Age, or by anybody else, well that's an entirely separate matter.

"But my view is the core problem lies with the US protection of its own diplomatic communications."

Assange, an Australian citizen who was arrested in Britain Tuesday on allegations of rape in Sweden, has accused Canberra of "disgraceful pandering" to his foes in a bid to protect its own interests.

Rudd said Australian authorities would investigate whether Assange, 39, had broken any domestic laws. He also vowed to offer Assange the same consular assistance and support as would be afforded to any other Australian citizen.