UN rapporteur accuses Australia of failing to protect Assange's rights

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued a statement denying an accusation by a U-N rapporteur on Torture that our government has failed to support Julian Assange, and is complicit in his psychological torture.

Nils Melzer recently visited Mr Assange in a British jail with a doctor and psychiatrist to assess his condition, and said he feared the Wikileaks founder could die in prison.

Julian Assange is facing possible extradition to the United States, where he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Mr Melzer says he wouldn't get a fair trial in the U-S, and added the Australian Government was failing to protect a citizen.