Julian Assange supporters form human chain around UK parliament

Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange formed a human chain outside Britain's parliament on Saturday to demand an end to an attempt by the United States to have him extradited to face criminal charges.

Hundreds of protesters, including Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, gathered in a line which stretched from parliament's perimeter railings and snaked across nearby Westminster Bridge to the other side of the River Thames.

Stella Assange, who is married to the Australian-born activist, said the British government should speak to authorities in the United States to end the extradition bid which was launched in 2019.  "It's already gone on for three-and-a-half years.  It is a stain on the United Kingdom and is a stain on the Biden administration," she said.

Supporters of Julian Assange also protested on Saturday outside the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, demanding that charges be dropped against the journalist whose only 'crime' was reporting the truth of U.S. war crimes.

Assange is wanted by U.S. authorities on 18 counts, including the charge of treason -- although he is an Australian citize -- relating to WikiLeaks' release of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables.   

His supporters say he has been victimized because he exposed U.S. wrongdoing in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Assange's legal team have lodged an appeal at Britain's High Court against London's decision to extradite him.