Wikileaks founder, fugitive and long-term resident of the Ecuadorian embassy Julian Assange has announced he intends to seek election to the Australian senate.
In an interview with Fairfax media, Australian born Assange revealed he hoped to set up a Wikileaks political party to facilitate his election in 2013.
He said that plans to launch a political party were "significantly advanced'' and that "a number of very worthy people admired by the Australian public" had told him they would also stand as candidates alongside him.
Assange, 41, is currently holed up in Ecuador's London embassy in an attempt to evade extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges.
According to The Age, Assange would be eligible to stand in New South Wales, home of Sydney and Canberra, or Victoria, home to Melbourne.
Assange told the newspaper he would stand on a platform of promoting openness in government combatting growing intrusions on individual privacy.
Last month Ecuador's ambassador to the UK said the embassy was treating Assange for a problem with his Lungs.
"He has a chronic lung complaint that could get worse any time. The Ecuadorean state is covering Mr Assange's medical costs and we have arranged for regular doctor visits to check on his health," ambassador Ana Alban said.
Assange says he fears he will be extradited to the United States to face charges over the activities of his Wikileaks website if he is first sent to Sweden.