Ecuador grants WikiLeaks founder Assange asylum

True to its promise for a definite pronouncement, Ecuador announced Thursday it has decided to grant political asylum to Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who sought refuge in the country’s embassy in London to avert extradition to Sweden.

“The Ecuador government, loyal to its tradition to protect those who seek refuge with us at our diplomatic missions, has decided to grant diplomatic asylum to Mr Assange,” Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said at a news conference.

It was initially speculated that Ecuador would take a stand on Tuesday.

Both Britain and Sweden have rejected the position of Ecuador. The UK government said this afternoon that the decision has changed nothing and Britain has an “obligation” to extradite him to Sweden, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

Commenting on the “disappointing” decision, a spokeswoman said: “Under our law, with Mr Assange having exhausted all options of appeal, the British authorities are under a binding obligation to extradite him to Sweden. We shall carry out that obligation.”

With Assange holed up in the Ecuador’s embassy, it will be interesting if the UK authorities will waive the embassy’s diplomatic immunity to arrest Assange.