UK govt 'spying' on Assange

The British government has been accused of spying on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, sparking an outrage among civil rights campaigners in the country.

A video released by WikiLeaks claim that three cameras have been erected outside the entrance of his temporary home in Ellingham Hall, Norfolk, to keep track of people visiting him.

"We suddenly noticed them appearing since we have been here. We believe they are monitoring everything that goes in and out of the property," Sarah Harrison, one of the WikiLeaks' team, was quoted as saying in the video, titled 'House Arrest', published by Telegraph online.

"I am not an expert on cameras but I believe that these take number plates and report number plates. I think the country is full of them but I don't know why I need quite so many of them around my house," said Vaughan Smith, the owner of the Ellingham Hall, where Assange moved into in mid-December as he fights extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual crimes.

The 39-year-old Australian has denied charges. But the clamp on his movement and spying on his visitors has sparked an outrage, with civil liberties campaign groups slamming the government.

"Regardless of the allegations made against Assange, he has not been charged with any crime," said Daniel Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch.

"For his movements – and those of his visitors – to be monitored in this way constitutes an outrageous invasion of personal privacy. These cameras must be removed immediately," he demanded.