GETTY Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has hit out at the CIA

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Mr Assange, declared by the Donald Trump administration as US public enemy number one, was speaking ahead of a live Spanish television interview. He told current affairs show When It’s Gone: “The CIA is basically useless. They are extremely incompetent as an organisation.

GETTY Julian Assange speaks from a balcony at the Ecuadorean embassy in London

It is one of the most useless organisations in the world Julian Assange

“It is the organisation that gave us the end of democracy in Iran, Pinochet, the destruction of Libya, the rise of ISIS within Libya, al-Qaeda, the Syrian disaster and the Iraq war. “It is one of the most useless organisations in the world.” US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia was behind the hack, and used Wikileaks to harm the chances of Mrs Clinton and favour Mr Trump.

GETTY Julian Assange looks out from a window at the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Mr Assange said the release was not intended to affect the election. The US Justice Department has been investigating Mr Assange since his Wikileaks website posted thousands of embarrassing diplomatic cables stolen by a US Army soldier, now known as Chelsea Manning. Mr Assange was granted asylum by Ecuador in June 2012 to prevent his extradition to Sweden, where he faces a sexual assault allegation, which he feared would then lead to his extradition to the US.

GETTY Julian Assange has been declared US public enemy number one by the Trump administration

Things you may not know about Julian Assange Tue, March 7, 2017 WikiLeaks Founder, Julian Assange has led a very interesting and controversial life which has been at the centre of global debate Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 10 It is believed that Julian Assange chooses to live in Sweden because the country's media laws are among the world's most protective for journalists