Ecuador blames Britain for impasse over Julian Assange

Ecuador has blamed Britain for upending its efforts to mediate a solution for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since June 2012 to avoid extradition.

Maria Fernanda Espinosa, the country's Foreign Minister, said Ecuador had hoped to forge an agreement with Britain on Australian-born Assange, who entered the embassy to avoid being sent to Sweden to face allegations of sex crimes, which he has denied.

"This has not prospered because to mediate, two parties are needed. Ecuador is willing but the other party is not," she told reporters.

Last week, a British judge refused to halt legal proceedings against Assange, 46. The Swedish case was dropped in May last year, but Britain still has a warrant out for Assange's arrest over his breach of bail terms.

Fernanda Espinosa said Ecuador shared Assange's fears that he could be extradited to the United States if he left the embassy, given that he has published US diplomatic and military secrets on WikiLeaks, an organisation that makes public secret information or news leaks provided by anonymous sources.

How long has Assange been in the Ecuadorian embassy?
How long has Assange been in the Ecuadorian embassy?

Ecuador will continue to provide shelter to Assange while he remains under threat and keep searching for ways to resolve the debacle, she said.

There is no public record or evidence demonstrating that any US criminal charges are pending against Assange, but he and his supporters believe US prosecutors could have a sealed, and therefore secret, indictment against him.

A US government official told Reuters last week that federal prosecutors were still pursuing a criminal investigation against WikiLeaks. 

Julian Assange rape allegations: a timeline
Julian Assange rape allegations: a timeline

The 46-year old Australian only rarely emerges onto the embassy balcony, citing concerns for his personal safety, but he frequently takes part in media conferences and campaigns via video link.

Ecuador in December granted citizenship to Assange, and asked Britain to recognize him as a diplomat in an unsuccessful attempt to provide him with the immunity that could see him walk free.

London swiftly rejected the move.