OTTAWA - The founder of WikiLeaks says former Stephen Harper adviser Tom Flanagan should be charged with incitement to commit murder for suggesting he should be assassinated.
Julian Assange was speaking Friday in an online forum run by Britain's Guardian newspaper and was asked about flippant comments Flanagan made during a television broadcast this week.
"It is correct that Mr. Flanagan and the others seriously making these statements should be charged with incitement to commit murder," Assange replied to the online question-and-answer session from an undisclosed location.
Flanagan mused on a CBC political talk show panel that U.S. President Barack Obama should consider assassinating Assange.
"I think Assange should be assassinated, actually," Flanagan said.
"I think Obama should put out a contract or maybe use a drone or something."
The University of Calgary professor has since apologized for the remarks, saying he wasn't seriously suggesting Assange should be killed.
Flanagan couldn't be reached for comment Friday on Assange's latest remarks.
Flanagan has not advised the prime minister for years and the Conservative government has disavowed all connection to him in recent days.
A spokesperson for WikiLeaks has noted that various pundits in the United States and Canada have called for Assange to be hunted down or killed.
"The threats against our lives are a matter of public record, however, we are taking the appropriate precautions to the degree that we are able when dealing with a superpower," said Assange.
In Ottawa, Joe Comartin, a New Democrat MP and former criminal lawyer, said he didn't believe there was any possibility that Flanagan could be charged under Canada's Criminal Code.
"Maybe some provisions under the Human Rights Act," Comartin added. "There are calls at the University of Calgary for some disciplinary action there."
A spokesman for the University of Calgary confirmed that it was "not considering disciplinary action against Dr. Flanagan at this time."
Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale said incident raises questions about a person "who puts himself forward to offer intelligent commentary on the television networks of this country, expressing views that are clearly contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
The CBC has received viewer complaints about Flanagan's remarks this week but won't say how many.
The CBC Ombudsman has referred the complaints to the news department for a response, said Jeff Keay, a spokesman for the public broadcaster.
"If the complainant finds the response unsatisfactory, the ombudsman will then weigh in with his ruling," Keay explained in an email.
Keay predicted the response would be, "a fairly quick process, although the amount of time required for a response can be influenced by the number of complaints."
Keay said the CBC has sent out letters of response and will continue doing that.
In the meantime, Flanagan will continue to appear as an occasional commentator.
"We note that he withdrew his remark and apologized for it. We accept that."
Meanwhile, global law enforcement continues its hunt for Assange.
Swedish authorities won a court ruling against Assange on Thursday in their bid to arrest him for questioning in a rape case.
British intelligence is said to know where in England he's hiding, and U.S. commentators and politicians are demanding he be hunted down or worse.
Interpol has a warrant out for him.
-- With files from The Associated Press
