Decision expected on Assange asylum

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has spent a second night at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London amid reports that a decision on his request for political asylum will be made today.

The 40-year-old Australian has been inside the building in Knightsbridge since Tuesday afternoon, when he went there to request political asylum under the United Nations Human Rights Declaration.

Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, will make a decision on Mr Assange's application later, the country's deputy foreign minister Marco Albuja told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

On Wednesday night Mr Albuja said: "We still can't make a final decision public yet. The national government is considering its position and the president will give us his instructions."

Mr Assange faces arrest for breaching the terms of his bail if he leaves the Ecuadorian Embassy.

The South American country, whose UK ambassador Anna Alban met the Government on Wednesday morning, says he is under its protection while it considers the application, which comes after his failed bid to avoid extradition to Sweden under a European arrest warrant to face sex crime allegations.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed in a statement that he was "beyond the reach of the police" while he remains in the building.

Ms Alban said she held "cordial and constructive" talks with the Government at the FCO. "I welcome the statement from the UK Government in which they stated that they would work with the Ecuadorian government to find a resolution," she said in a statement.

"I also took the opportunity to explain that the decision on Mr Assange's application would be assessed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Quito and would take into account Ecuador's long and well established tradition in supporting human rights. I also emphasised to the UK Government that it was not the intention of the Ecuadorian government to interfere with the processes of either the UK or Swedish governments.I have made clear that I will make myself available to meet with the UK Government's representatives at any time so that we can find a just and fair solution to this situation."

The Swedish Ministry of Justice issued a statement saying: "We have noted that Mr Assange seeks asylum. The European arrest warrant is valid. We assume that Britain will carry out the decision made by their Supreme Court."

(2012-06-21/news)