WikiLeaks did not commit offence in Australia: Police

Australian police said on Friday that WikiLeaks did not commit any criminal offence in the country by releasing secret US diplomatic cables which discussed sensitive government policies.

"The AFP (Australian Federal Police) has completed its  evaluation of the material available and has not established  the existence of any criminal offences where Australia would  have jurisdiction," the AFP said in a statement.

The Australian government ordered police to investigate  whether WikiLeaks, founded by Australian Julian Assange, had committed a criminal offence in Australia.

The request followed comments by Prime Minister Julia Gillard that the "foundation stone" of the release of secret  US cables by WikiLeaks was "an illegal act that certainly  breached the laws of the United States of America".

Gillard has been criticised by pro-WikiLeak supporters and some members of her Labor government for possibly prejudicing Assange in any future criminal case.

WikiLeaks has provoked fury in Washington with its publications of secret US cables and vows to make public the  250,000 embassy documents it had obtained. The cables include  details of overseas installations that Washington regards as vital to its security.

Assange was released on bail in Britain on Thursday while  he awaits charges of sexual assault in Sweden.

Assange and his lawyers have voiced fears that US prosecutors might be preparing to indict him for espionage over WikiLeaks' publication of the documents.

The US cables on Australia released by WikiLeaks have revealed intelligence agency briefings on terrorism in  Southeast Asia and South Asia, as well as more personal assessments of government members, including former Prime  Minister Kevin Rudd, who was described as a "control freak"  focused on the media.

"The government referred the matter to the AFP as it was  prudent to examine whether any Australian laws have been broken," attorney-general Robert McClelland said.

"As has previously been stated, given the documents  published to date are classified by the United States, the  primary jurisdiction for any investigation into the matter remains the United States," he said.

"The government remains extremely concerned about the  unauthorised and irresponsible distribution of classified  material."