Australia backs WikiLeaks,says actions not illegal in country

Australian police said on Friday that WikiLeaks did not commit any criminal offence in the country by releasing secret US diplomatic cables which discussed sensitive government policies.

The AFP Australian Federal Police has completed its evaluation of the material available and has not established the existence of any criminal offences where Australia would have jurisdiction, the AFP said in a statement.

The Australian government ordered police to investigate whether WikiLeaks,founded by Australian Julian Assange,had committed a criminal offence in Australia.

The request followed comments by Prime Minister Julia Gillard that the foundation stone of the release of secret US cables by WikiLeaks was an illegal act that certainly breached the laws of the US.