Assange speaks via satellite from London, calls for end to 'persecution'

The founder of WikiLeaks delivered an impassioned appeal Wednesday for the U.S. government to end its actions against him, his website and those who support it, CNN reports.
"It is time for the United States to cease its persecution of WikiLeaks, to cease its persecution of our people and to cease its persecution of our alleged sources," Julian Assange, speaking via satellite from London, told a packed conference room at the United Nations, where world leaders were attending the United Nations General Assembly.
"It is time for President Obama to do the right thing and join the forces of change -- not in fine words, but in fine deeds."
Assange was speaking from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has been holed up since June.
The event was held by the Mission of Ecuador on U.N. grounds, but was not officially sponsored by the world body.
For much of 2011 until June, Assange had been under house arrest in Britain while he filed appeals against his extradition from Britain to Sweden. Sweden has said it wants to question Assange on allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman there.
Assange has not been charged with a crime.
Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said he planned to meet Thursday with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in an attempt to persuade him to allow Assange to leave the embassy without facing the possibility of arrest.
"We hope for a positive dialogue seeking a solution to this problem," Patino said. "There are many ways to assure a solution that will protect his life and human rights."
Ecuador granted Assange asylum in August, but he faces arrest in Britain if he leaves its embassy. The embassy is a sovereign space that authorities from other countries cannot encroach. In August a London policeman was photographed carrying an arrest plan for Assange.