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Wikileaks founder Assange says U.N. panel ruling will determine his fate Britain: Wikileaks founder faces arrest no matter ruling by U.N. panel 
(about 2 hours 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. LONDON — British authorities warned Thursday that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange would face arrest if he leaves his diplomatic sanctuary in London regardless of an expected decision by a U.N. panel reviewing his long standoff.
The U.N. panel considering his “unlawful detention” is set to rule in his favor, however, the BBC reported Thursday. Assange suggested he is prepared to depart the Ecuadorean Embassy compound, but how it may play out hinges on the U.N. group’s decision that could be made public on Friday.
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.” The BBC, citing sources, said the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention plans to rule in favor of Assange’s claims he should be allowed to travel to Ecuador, which has offered him asylum amid fears he could eventually face U.S. charges over leaked documents.
“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 who took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 said he would demand the return of his passport from British officials if his claims are backed by the panel, which has no legal authority but whose decisions often carry weight in international disputes.
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 hinted before of leaving embassy]
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. But if the Geneva-based group rules against him, Assange said in a statement that he would leave the embassy and “accept arrest.”
The U.N. tribunal’s vote is due to be made public on Friday, and Assange has tweeted that he is “awaiting official confirmation.” Assange took refuge in the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over alleged sex crimes claims he strenuously denies.
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 says he fears that Sweden could extradite him to the United States over his involvement in releasing classified U.S. documents.
In 2014, Assange filed a complaint against Britain and Sweden with the U.N. group over what he said was his “arbitrary detention.” Assange said he is blocked from traveling to Ecuador because he faced arrest if he steps out of the embassy.
But British authorities appear to be standing firm.
The British government said that Assange had avoided arrest by fleeing to the Ecuadorean Embassy and that it was under obligation to extradite him to Sweden over an outstanding rape allegation.
“We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the U.K. continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr. Assange to Sweden,” it continued.
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. Murphy reported from Washington. Daniela Deane in London contributed to this report.
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