Washington 21 Apr (ANA) - The US is debating whether to charge Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, US media report. The organisation, which publishes confidential documents, has been in the cross-hairs of the US for years. Last week, CIA Director Mike Pompeo described it as a "hostile" intelligence service abetted by Russia, and Mr Assange as a "fraud". But the group was last year praised by President Donald Trump for its work during the election campaign. The release of hacked emails belonging to a Hillary Clinton aide were a factor in her losing the election, the Democratic candidate later claimed. 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. But Mr Assange, who has been staying at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, has said the release was not intended to affect the election. He was granted asylum by Ecuador to prevent his extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges.(ANA)

FA/ANA/21 April 2017------