WikiLeaks has been forced to suspend publication of classified files after funding blockade and could be no choice but to close at the end of the year, founder Julian Assange has been announced.
Whistleblowing sites have seen funding falls to 95 percent due to the "arbitrary and unlawful financial blockade" was mounted by the company, including Visa and MasterCard, since December last year, Assange said in London on Monday.
"In order to ensure the survival of our future, WikiLeaks is now forced to temporarily suspend publishing operations and aggressive fundraise for struggle against the blockade and its supporters," he said.
"If the WikiLeaks does not find a way to remove the blockade, given our current level of spending, we just won't be able to continue with the turn of the new year."
Australia condemned the blockade was politically motivated and directly related to the "Cablegate", came within days of the release of tens of thousands of websites classified us diplomatic cable in November last year.