WikiLeaks gets Swedish Pirate Party as ISP

The Pirate Party has offered WikiLeaks free hosting

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has secured a deal with Sweden's Pirate Party to act as his site's internet service provider (ISP).

The Pirate Party, which has set up an ISP, offered WikiLeaks free hosting after the Pentagon demanded the return of documents leaked to the site by serving personnel.

The publication of the documents and videos has revealed more details of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq than had hitherto been released, and angered the US authorities.

"The Pirate Party will provide bandwidth and hosting to WikiLeaks free of charge as part of its political mission," the party said in a statement.

The party is looking for electoral success next month in national elections, and wants to host its servers in the Swedish parliament building if elected.

This would make the party technically free from legal action under parliamentary privilege. The Pirate Bay web site is also reported to have been offered hosting services.

"We welcome the help provided by the Pirate Party," said Assange. "Our organisations share many values, and I am looking forward to future ways we can help each other improve the world."