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Leader: Galloway views 'wrong'

The leader of the Respect party has called the controversial comments by its MP George Galloway on rape as "disappointing and wrong." He has defended his claim that a rape allegation against Julian Assange amounted to "bad sexual etiquette".

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Galloway defends Assange case claim

Respect MP George Galloway has defended his controversial claim that a rape allegation against WikiLeaks campaigner Julian Assange amounted to no more than bad "sexual etiquette".

Mr Galloway provoked a furious response from women's groups after he said in a video podcast that even if the complaints made against Mr Assange by two women in Sweden were true, they did not constitute rape.

In a statement the MP said:

No never means yes and non-consensual sex is rape. There's no doubt about it and that has always been my position. But if my remarks on the podcast need clarification I am happy to do that.

Julian Assange, let's be clear, has always denied the allegations. And this has all the hallmarks of a set-up.

I don't believe, from what we know, that the Director of Public Prosecutions would sanction a prosecution in Britain. What occurred is not rape as most people understand it. And it's important to note that the two women involved did not initially claim it.

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Leader: Galloway views 'wrong'

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