UK, Ecuador fail to agree on Assange

Iran Press TV

Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:11AM GMT

Talks between British Foreign Secretary William Hague and his Ecuadorian counterpart Ricardo Patino have failed to end the year-long stand-off over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The London meeting was aimed at resolving Assange’s year-long stay at the Ecuadorian embassy.

Assange has been trying to avoid extradition to Sweden in connection with a sexual assault case.

The embassy building is under 24-7 police watch to ensure Assange, who has been granted asylum by Ecuador government, is put on arrest the moment he leaves the building.

In their meeting, Patino and Hague only agreed to establish a working group to try to find a way out of the stalemate.

"Ministers agreed that officials should establish a working group to find a diplomatic solution to the issue of Julian Assange, but no substantive progress was made,” the British Foreign Office said in a statement.

On the other hand, the Ecuadorian side said that they see no change in Assange’s circumstances and he can stay at the embassy for five years.

There are fears the extradition of Assange to Sweden is a cover to hand him to the US for a treason trial over WikiLeaks release of the US military and diplomatic cables that faced Washington with international embarrassment back in 2010.

AMR/HE