Manning a hero, US war on whistleblowers must end - Assange FULL SPEECH

The WikiLeaks founder was granted political asylum on Thursday – a decision that ignited a wave of international responses, with the UK and Sweden opposing the verdict and Latin American countries strongly supporting Ecuador’s move.

Reuters/Olivia Harris

Image from Twitter/@RTLondonBureau

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange addresses the media and his supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. (AFP Photo/Carl Court)

A picture taken on August 19, 2012 shows posters pledging support for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange before his address, outsite the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. (AFP Photo/Will Oliver)

People wait on August 19, 2012 for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to address the press and his supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. (AFP Photo/Will Oliver)

Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, wearing Guy Fawkes masks, stand outisde the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. (AFP Photo/Will Oliver)