<p> <br />“These massive forces have decided they are going to stop him and they are not going to play by the rules,” Christine Assange was quoted as saying by the media here.<br /><br />On charges of sexual assaults against her 39-year-old son in Sweden, she said: “Julian, rape, straight out of my guts — no way. Julian would not rape.”<br /><br />“It’s a worry of course. I’m no different to any other mother,” she said. “Every time the news goes on, I’m glued to it. Is he OK?”<br /><br />She also expressed her anger at the Australian government, particularly Prime Minister Julia Gillard who, she said, had just “gone in there full bore and accused him of being a criminal.”<br />“I just think, well hang on a minute, this is one of your citizens here,” she said. “You should not be leading the charge.”<br /><br />Christine called her son a “brave” person and said “a lot of people would not be able to withstand the pressure he is under.”<br /><br />Asked if she thought her son had been betrayed, Christine replied “at the moment, yes.”<br />Commenting on several rallies being organised in support of Assange, she said “he is very heartened by the worldwide response from just ordinary people.”<br /><br />Assange, an Australian national, is currently in custody in London, facing extradition to Sweden. The assault charges against him relate to two separate incidents during his visit to Sweden in August. He denies the charges and has vowed to fight the extradition.<br /><br />Protesters demand Assange’s release<br /><br />Scores of demonstrators rallied on Saturday outside the gates of the British consulate in Sao Paulo to demand the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, agencies report from Sao Paulo.<br /><br />Brazilian media said the demonstration was organised online, using social networks like Facebook and Twitter and several blogs that have emerged in Brazil to protest Assange’s arrest.<br /><br />The British consulate in Sao Paulo is closed on Saturdays. The police watched the rally from a distance, although no violent incidents were reported.</p>
<p> <br />“These massive forces have decided they are going to stop him and they are not going to play by the rules,” Christine Assange was quoted as saying by the media here.<br /><br />On charges of sexual assaults against her 39-year-old son in Sweden, she said: “Julian, rape, straight out of my guts — no way. Julian would not rape.”<br /><br />“It’s a worry of course. I’m no different to any other mother,” she said. “Every time the news goes on, I’m glued to it. Is he OK?”<br /><br />She also expressed her anger at the Australian government, particularly Prime Minister Julia Gillard who, she said, had just “gone in there full bore and accused him of being a criminal.”<br />“I just think, well hang on a minute, this is one of your citizens here,” she said. “You should not be leading the charge.”<br /><br />Christine called her son a “brave” person and said “a lot of people would not be able to withstand the pressure he is under.”<br /><br />Asked if she thought her son had been betrayed, Christine replied “at the moment, yes.”<br />Commenting on several rallies being organised in support of Assange, she said “he is very heartened by the worldwide response from just ordinary people.”<br /><br />Assange, an Australian national, is currently in custody in London, facing extradition to Sweden. The assault charges against him relate to two separate incidents during his visit to Sweden in August. He denies the charges and has vowed to fight the extradition.<br /><br />Protesters demand Assange’s release<br /><br />Scores of demonstrators rallied on Saturday outside the gates of the British consulate in Sao Paulo to demand the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, agencies report from Sao Paulo.<br /><br />Brazilian media said the demonstration was organised online, using social networks like Facebook and Twitter and several blogs that have emerged in Brazil to protest Assange’s arrest.<br /><br />The British consulate in Sao Paulo is closed on Saturdays. The police watched the rally from a distance, although no violent incidents were reported.</p>