3 Jun 2013

Ecuador seeks talks on future of Assange

2:51 pm on 3 June 2013

The British government is considering a request from Ecuador to hold talks on the future of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

The Foreign Office has confirmed foreign minister Ricardo Patino, who will visit Mr Assange this month, had offered to meet Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Mr Assange has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for a year, having been granted political asylum there.

The BBC reports he faces extradition to Sweden over sex accusations, which he denies.

Once in Sweden, he fears onward extradition to the United States where he could face charges over the release of secret documents by Wikileaks.

The BBC reports Mr Patino will visit London on 16 June to meet Mr Assange at the embassy.

Mr Assange entered the embassy in London on 19 June 2012, after the Supreme Court dismissed a bid to reopen his appeal against extradition.

He has been warned he will be arrested when he leaves the embassy for breaking the terms of his bail conditions following the ruling.

Metropolitan Police officers continue to mount a round-the-clock guard on the building. In February, police said the bill for the stood at almost £3 million.