Wikileaks founder Julian Assange seeks diplomatic protection from Australia

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday appealed to the Australian government to provide him diplomatic protection as he began his legal fight against being extradited to the US from the UK to face charges of allegedly leaking American government secrets.

"I do not wish to surrender myself to extradition for doing journalism that has won many, many awards and protected many people," Assange said via videolink from Belmarsh prison.

On Wednesday, the 47-year-old Australian was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching his British bail.