REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/SYDNEY, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A cross-party delegation of Australian lawmakers that traveled to the United States seeking the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said they had a productive discussion in Washington with the U.S. Justice Department. The group of Australian lawmakers urged U.S. officials to drop their attempts to extradite Assange from a British prison to the United States, where he is wanted on charges over WikiLeaks' release of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables. "We had a fair hearing and we had a productive discussion," Australian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said after the meeting. The delegation included lawmakers from the Labor government, the opposition Liberal and National parties, and the Greens. Labor Member of Parliament Tony Zappia said Australians believed Assange, an Australian citizen, had been punished enough and that his charges should be dropped.

---

Persons: Julian Assange, Alkis, Assange, Peter Whish, Wilson, Tony Zappia, Zappia, Assange's, Anthony Albanese, May, Albanese, Penny Wong, Kanishka Singh, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates, Michael Perry Organizations: WikiLeaks, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice Department, U.S, Labor, Liberal, National, Greens . Labor, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Australian, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Britain, U.S, Athens, Greece, SYDNEY, United States, Washington, Australian, Afghanistan, Iraq, Australia, New York, Sydney