Wikileaks rally fires up in Sydney: pics

Again, the protest started outside Town Hall in Sydney's centre.

At 1pm, the planned starting time, it looked a little empty, but those involved were spreading their message via fliers and magazines.

Wikileaks-themed t-shirts and bags were also making the rounds.

There was a strong police presence, but this time the rally had the police's support.

The square started to fill.

Pirate Party spokesperson Simon Frew introduced the speakers, saying that the government was treating Australians like mushrooms, keeping them in the dark and feeding them media manure.

The Pirate Party is demanding that Australia move to protect Wikleaks, other whistleblowing services and sources, introduce laws which facilitate an environment of openness and tell the US that it condemns calls for violence, such as those calling for the assassination of Wikileaks mouthpiece Julian Assange. The party wants the government to afford Assange its full support and assistance.

Collection buckets went around, with proceeds to go to helping victims of the Queensland floods.

People sported pirate flags, Greens Party flags and Che Guevara flags.

Some placards were specific in their demands.

After the speeches, which featured NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge and independent freelance journalist Antony Loewenstein, the crowd moved out onto George Street and made its way to the MLC centre where the US consulate is housed.

According to reports, over a thousand people attended the rally.

People yelled slogans such as "Wikileaks here to stay. Censorship, no way!"

Loewenstein had earlier said that there was nothing stopping anyone in Australia from starting a local version of Wikileaks to keep local, state and federal governments accountable.

With its police escort, the rally flowed smoothly, in contrast to the last Wikileaks rally.