WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hails 'hero' Edward Snowden

THE founder of WikiLeaks has disputed assertions by US officials that disclosures by WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden have put lives at risk.

Julian Assange, in an interview with US ABC TV was asked to respond to recent remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry that people could die as a consequence of explosive revelations by Mr Snowden, the fugitive former National Security Agency contractor who blew the lid on vast US phone and internet surveillance programs. Other US officials have repeatedly made the same assertion.

"We have heard this rhetoric. I myself was subject to precisely this rhetoric two, three years ago. And it all proved to be false," Assange said.

The Australian also suggested more Snowden leaks were forthcoming.

"There is no stopping the publishing process at this stage," Mr Assange said. "Great care has been taken to make sure that Mr Snowden can't be pressured by any state to stop the publication process."