Twelve current and former world leaders are among those calling on the UK Government to end extradition proceedings against Julian Assange, arguing that he should not be prosecuted for his political opinions or actions as a publisher.

The president of Argentina Alberto Fernández (pictured) joined former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and 159 other heads of state, diplomats, ministers and parliamentarians past and present to object to the ongoing prosecution as it entered its third week at the Old Bailey.

The letter was also signed by Rafael Correa, who was president of Ecuador when Assange entered his country’s London embassy in 2012, and diplomat Fidel Naváez who worked at the consul during the Wikileaks founder’s almost seven-year asylum.