Ecuador ready to shelter Assange

Ecuador said Wednesday it is prepared to shelter Julian Assange inside its London embassy for years if necessary as it negotiates the WikiLeaks founder's fate with Britain and Sweden.

Photo: Free Assange

Assange meanwhile called on the United States to halt its "persecution" of WikiLeaks and its supporters in a video link message at the UN headquarters organized by Ecuador.

Assange will spend his 100th day in the embassy on Thursday as British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino hold talks on the activist, who is wanted in Sweden for questioning on charges of sexual assault but fears eventual extradition to the United States.

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Diplomatic Row over 'threat to arrest Assange'

A diplomatic row brews over claims that the government is threatening to enter the Ecuadorian embassy in London and arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is seeking political asylum.

Ecuador's minister for foreign affairs, Ricardo Patino, released details of a letter he said was delivered through a British embassy official in the capital of the South American country, Quito.

The letter said: "You need to be aware that there is a legal base in the UK, the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, that would allow us to take actions in order to arrest Mr Assange in the current premises of the Embassy.

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Ecuador President Rafael Correa denies British media report of asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Ecuador President Rafael Correa has denied a British media report that his country had granted asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

"The rumour of asylum for Assange is false. No decision has yet been taken. Awaiting report from the foreign ministry,'' Correa wrote on Twitter.

Assange, 41, took refuge at Ecuador's embassy in London on June 19 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where the Australian national faces police questioning over sexual assault allegations.

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