Wikileaks founder Julian Assange seeking political asylum in EcuadorReported by Metro.co.uk on Tuesday, 19 June 2012 (on June 19, 2012)
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*Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is seeking political asylum after walking into Ecuador’s embassy in London.*
Accused: Wikileaks website founder Julian Assange (Picture: Getty Images)
The 40-year-old, facing extradition to Sweden over allegations of rape and sexual assault, told diplomats he was being persecuted for political reasons.
He has written to the Ecuador president, Rafael Correa, telling him he feared being sent to the US where he could face the death penalty over his part in leaking thousands of diplomatic cables.
Ecuador said he was now under its protection but insisted it was not ‘interfering in the judicial processes of either the United Kingdom or Sweden’.
The move is the latest twist in the Australian’s long-running legal battle against extradition over claims he molested two women in Stockholm in 2010.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled the extradition was lawful but Assange was given 14 days to consider an appeal.
Ecuador had reportedly offered him residency two years ago and yesterday afternoon he arrived at the embassy.
A message was posted on the Wikileaks Twitter account, saying: ‘ALERT: Julian Assange has requested political asylum and is under the protection of the Ecuadorian embassy in London.’
Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patino said Assange complained his country was ignoring ‘the obligation to protect a politically persecuted citizen’.
It was not clear what would happen to the £240,000 bail put up for Assange by his many celebrity backers.
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