Freedom rally for WikiLeaks

Defiant protestors ... Thousands ignored police and protested for the freedom of WikiLeaks' Julian Assange in Sydney. Source: AAP

Hundreds of WikiLeaks supporters have rallied in central Sydney to demand the release of its frontman Julian Assange and defend the whistleblower website from silencing attempts. 

At least two arrests were made as the activists, some waving banners reading 'Hands off WikiLeaks' and 'We deserve the truth', defied police orders not to march through the CBD on Tuesday to voice their concerns.

"It was a message to Julia Gillard that Julian Assange is not a criminal," activist Pip Hinman told AAP.

"If any charges have been laid, he has a right to have them heard in a court of law, and not be tried by governments and the media."

March organisers said eight people had been arrested by about 8pm (AEDT) but police confirmed only two arrests, although a spokeswoman said the report hadn't been finalised.

Ms Hinman said about 600 protesters staged a peaceful rally and did not disrupt peak-hour traffic as it moved along George Street's footpath and then into Martin Place to the US Consulate.

"The police I saw were grabbing people from the footpath, they were pulling people onto the street, at the same time they let out their dogs from their vans and that's where I saw a few people getting dragged away."

Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said earlier the protesters were refused permission to march through the city because the mandatory five-days' notice wasn't given.

The Support WikiLeaks Coalition (SWC) said the right to protest was a basic human right.

"We're now having to defend our own freedom of speech to defend the freedom of speech of WikiLeaks," said SWC spokesman Patrick Langosch.

"We want to march to the US Embassy to show we oppose their attempts to silence WikiLeaks... We can only conclude that the draconian actions of the NSW Police are political."

Source: The Daily Telegraph