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| Wikileaks founder Assange says U.N. panel ruling will determine his fate | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said Thursday that he would leave the Ecuadorean Embassy in London on Friday and “accept arrest” if the United Nations rules against him, possibly ending a dramatic three-and-a-half-year showdown. | |
| The U.N. panel considering his “unlawful detention” is set to rule in his favor, however, the BBC reported Thursday. | The U.N. panel considering his “unlawful detention” is set to rule in his favor, however, the BBC reported Thursday. |
| Assange said in a statement that if the U.N. rules in his favor, as the BBC reports, “I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me.” | Assange said in a statement that if the U.N. rules in his favor, as the BBC reports, “I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me.” |
| “Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden, I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal,” the statement said. | “Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden, I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal,” the statement said. |
| Assange has been living at the embassy since June 2012, when he took refuge to avoid extradition to Sweden. Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning over alleged sex crimes, which he strenuously denies. Assange says he fears that if he is sent to Sweden he could be extradited to the U.S. over his involvement in releasing classified U.S. documents. | Assange has been living at the embassy since June 2012, when he took refuge to avoid extradition to Sweden. Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning over alleged sex crimes, which he strenuously denies. Assange says he fears that if he is sent to Sweden he could be extradited to the U.S. over his involvement in releasing classified U.S. documents. |
| Assange has argued that he should be able to travel to Ecuador, where he has been granted asylum, but can’t because he will be arrested if he steps out of the embassy. He asked a U.N. panel to look into whether his detention at the embassy was lawful. | Assange has argued that he should be able to travel to Ecuador, where he has been granted asylum, but can’t because he will be arrested if he steps out of the embassy. He asked a U.N. panel to look into whether his detention at the embassy was lawful. |
| The U.N. tribunal’s vote is due to be made public on Friday, and Assange has tweeted that he is “awaiting official confirmation.” | The U.N. tribunal’s vote is due to be made public on Friday, and Assange has tweeted that he is “awaiting official confirmation.” |
| It was not immediately clear what legal impact the rulings of the U.N. working group would have on Assange’s detention. A spokesman for the London Metropolitan Police said on Thursday their position remained unchanged, and that they would seek his arrest if he left the embassy. | It was not immediately clear what legal impact the rulings of the U.N. working group would have on Assange’s detention. A spokesman for the London Metropolitan Police said on Thursday their position remained unchanged, and that they would seek his arrest if he left the embassy. |
| Assange’s friend and restaurateur Vaughan Smith told the BBC he hopes Assange will be allowed to leave the embassy. He is “quite pale and rather unhealthy and I think he’s suffered horribly for challenging power,” he said. | Assange’s friend and restaurateur Vaughan Smith told the BBC he hopes Assange will be allowed to leave the embassy. He is “quite pale and rather unhealthy and I think he’s suffered horribly for challenging power,” he said. |
| Daniela Deane contributed to this report. | Daniela Deane contributed to this report. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |