The scene in London looks straight out of a political thriller staring Gary Oldman, but its happening in real life to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The government of Ecuador has grant Assange political asylum, while the 41-year is staying at Ecuador’s embassy in London. Assange has been at the Embassy since June 19. He was scheduled to turn himself into London police at the end of June.
Assange has been battling extradition to Sweden. Swedish police have warrant for him to be questioned for an alleged sexual misconduct charge.
While at the Ecuador Embassy Assange released a statement saying it was not Britain or his home country, Australia that stood up to protect him from persecution, but a courageous, independent Latin American nation.
Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patino said the decision to grant asylum for Assange was based on the possible extradition not to Sweden but the U.S. Patino added that his government believes Assange would not get a fair trial in the U.S. Meanwhile the London police said it will arrest Assange when and if he leaves the Ecuador embassy.The British foreign secretary William Hague is disappointed with Ecuador’s decision and added that Assange will not be allowed out of the country and might even lift Ecuador’s diplomatic status to get at Assange.
