Assange: Canceling Snowden's passport a 'disgrace'

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is praising NSA leaker Edward Snowden and criticizing the United States for canceling his passport.

"The United States, by cancelling his passport, has left him for the moment marooned in Russia," Assange said in an interview aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "I think that every citizen has the right to their citizenship, to take someone's principle form of citizenship their passport, is a disgrace."

"He is a hero," Assange said of Snowden, "He has told the people of the world and the United States that there is mass unlawful interception of their communications."

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Assange, who spoke from the Ecuadorian embassy where he has received political asylum, founded WikiLeaks, which disclosed widespread classified information. He disagreed with claims that Snowden's leaks would put people in harms way, saying the same was said about him and that proved to be false.

He spoke little about the circumstances Snowden, who is stuck in the Moscow airport, presently finds himself.

"Our legal people have been in contact with Mr. Snowden," Assange said. "I can't say anything about the present situation."

Assange said he will continue to try to help Snowden.

"I have a personal sympathy for Mr. Snowden," Assange said. "We did what we could and will continue to try to help him through."

Assange said Snowden should be granted asylum and was critical of U.S. efforts to pressure other countries to not grant that asylum.

"Hopefully, another country will give him the protection he deserves," Assange said.

He also answered criticism from Snowden's father that he was concerned Assange was manipulating Snowden.

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"We have established contact with Mr. Snowden's father lawyer to put some of his concerns to rest," Assange said. "This isn't a situation that WikiLeaks is in charge of it. This is a matter for states, it's a very, very serious level to understand and sort out and behave responsibly."

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