This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/aug/16/julian-assange-asylum-uk-ecuador
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Julian Assange asylum offer leads Ecuador and UK into diplomatic row | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A major diplomatic row over the fate of the fugitive Julian Assange erupted after the WikiLeaks founder was offered political asylum by Ecuador to escape extradition from Britain over allegations of serious sexual assaults. | A major diplomatic row over the fate of the fugitive Julian Assange erupted after the WikiLeaks founder was offered political asylum by Ecuador to escape extradition from Britain over allegations of serious sexual assaults. |
| The foreign secretary, William Hague, responded by warning the Ecuadorean government that diplomatic immunity should not be used to harbour alleged criminals. He said Assange would be arrested if he leaves the embassy in London where he has lived for nearly two months. | The foreign secretary, William Hague, responded by warning the Ecuadorean government that diplomatic immunity should not be used to harbour alleged criminals. He said Assange would be arrested if he leaves the embassy in London where he has lived for nearly two months. |
| Ecuador's decision has also angered the Swedish authorities, who wish to question Assange and the two women who claim he assaulted them during a trip to the country in 2010. Assange denies the assault claims and says he fears being sent on to the United States where he could face political persecution for releasing thousands of secret US cables. | Ecuador's decision has also angered the Swedish authorities, who wish to question Assange and the two women who claim he assaulted them during a trip to the country in 2010. Assange denies the assault claims and says he fears being sent on to the United States where he could face political persecution for releasing thousands of secret US cables. |
| The standoff will escalate tensions between the two countries over the fate of Assange, who has skipped bail while awaiting removal from the UK. It follows allegations from Ecuador that the British government has threatened to storm the embassy to seize Assange. Diplomatic posts are often considered the territory of the foreign nation. | The standoff will escalate tensions between the two countries over the fate of Assange, who has skipped bail while awaiting removal from the UK. It follows allegations from Ecuador that the British government has threatened to storm the embassy to seize Assange. Diplomatic posts are often considered the territory of the foreign nation. |
| After a day of dramatic developments and protests, Assange watched the asylum decision from a room in the embassy in Knightsbridge, central London, via a live link to a press conference from the Ecuadorean capital, Quito. | After a day of dramatic developments and protests, Assange watched the asylum decision from a room in the embassy in Knightsbridge, central London, via a live link to a press conference from the Ecuadorean capital, Quito. |
| Hague responded by saying Assange would not be allowed safe passage out of the UK, and that it was a "matter of regret" that the Ecuadorean government decided to grant the WikiLeaks founder political asylum. But Hague said that did not change the fundamentals of the case. | Hague responded by saying Assange would not be allowed safe passage out of the UK, and that it was a "matter of regret" that the Ecuadorean government decided to grant the WikiLeaks founder political asylum. But Hague said that did not change the fundamentals of the case. |
| Speaking at the Foreign Office, he added the case could go on for a considerable time. "We will not allow Mr Assange safe passage out of the United Kingdom, nor is there any legal basis for us to do so." | Speaking at the Foreign Office, he added the case could go on for a considerable time. "We will not allow Mr Assange safe passage out of the United Kingdom, nor is there any legal basis for us to do so." |
| On Wednesday, British government officials sent a letter to Ecuadorean officials in Quito outlining the powers of the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, which allows revocation of a building's diplomatic status if the foreign power occupying it "ceases to use land for the purposes of its mission or exclusively for the purposes of a consular post". | On Wednesday, British government officials sent a letter to Ecuadorean officials in Quito outlining the powers of the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, which allows revocation of a building's diplomatic status if the foreign power occupying it "ceases to use land for the purposes of its mission or exclusively for the purposes of a consular post". |
| Hague dismissed Ecuadorean claims that the letter was a threat to "attack" their embassy. | Hague dismissed Ecuadorean claims that the letter was a threat to "attack" their embassy. |
| "There is no threat here to storm an embassy. We are talking about an act of parliament in this country which stresses that it must be used in full conformity with international law," he said. Officials said use of the act has not been ruled out. | "There is no threat here to storm an embassy. We are talking about an act of parliament in this country which stresses that it must be used in full conformity with international law," he said. Officials said use of the act has not been ruled out. |
| Hague also denied claims by Assange and his supporters that there was a deal that would see him extradited to the US. | Hague also denied claims by Assange and his supporters that there was a deal that would see him extradited to the US. |
| The country's foreign affairs minister, Ricardo Patiño, said Assange was clear that he is being persecuted for political reasons because of the disclosure of documents by WikiLeaks. "Ecuador is sure that there is a real threat of him being extradited to a third country, without any guarantees. He would be subject to cruel treatment," Patino said in his press conference in Quito. | The country's foreign affairs minister, Ricardo Patiño, said Assange was clear that he is being persecuted for political reasons because of the disclosure of documents by WikiLeaks. "Ecuador is sure that there is a real threat of him being extradited to a third country, without any guarantees. He would be subject to cruel treatment," Patino said in his press conference in Quito. |
| The Ecuadorean government has conducted lengthy diplomatic talks with the UK, Swedish and US governments, Patiño said. | The Ecuadorean government has conducted lengthy diplomatic talks with the UK, Swedish and US governments, Patiño said. |
| He said that the UK's reaction amounted to a strong threat: "It is basically saying, 'We are going to beat you savagely if you don't behave … but if you behave, we may not beat you savagely." | He said that the UK's reaction amounted to a strong threat: "It is basically saying, 'We are going to beat you savagely if you don't behave … but if you behave, we may not beat you savagely." |
| An official said Ecuador had acted within international and diplomatic law ever since Assange took refuge inside the building. | An official said Ecuador had acted within international and diplomatic law ever since Assange took refuge inside the building. |
| The Swedish foreign ministry said it had summoned Ecuador's ambassador over the Latin American country's "unacceptable" decision to grant asylum. | The Swedish foreign ministry said it had summoned Ecuador's ambassador over the Latin American country's "unacceptable" decision to grant asylum. |
| Assange will give a statement outside the embassy on Sunday afternoon, according to tweets posted on the WikiLeaks Twitter feed, prompting speculation that he could be arrested because the property might be outside the embassy. | Assange will give a statement outside the embassy on Sunday afternoon, according to tweets posted on the WikiLeaks Twitter feed, prompting speculation that he could be arrested because the property might be outside the embassy. |
| The lawyer of two Swedish women who made allegations of sexual assault against Assange denounced Ecuador's move as "absurd". Claes Borgstrom told reporters that the move was an abuse of the asylum instrument, the purpose of which is to protect people from persecution and torture if sent back to one's country of origin. "He doesn't risk being handed over to the United States for torture or the death penalty. He should be brought to justice in Sweden," she said. | The lawyer of two Swedish women who made allegations of sexual assault against Assange denounced Ecuador's move as "absurd". Claes Borgstrom told reporters that the move was an abuse of the asylum instrument, the purpose of which is to protect people from persecution and torture if sent back to one's country of origin. "He doesn't risk being handed over to the United States for torture or the death penalty. He should be brought to justice in Sweden," she said. |
| The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has convened an "extraordinary meeting" in Ecuador on Sunday to discuss the situation at the embassy. | The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has convened an "extraordinary meeting" in Ecuador on Sunday to discuss the situation at the embassy. |
| A statement released on the website of the foreign ministry of Peru, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the intergovernmental union, said: "The Foreign Ministry of Peru lets public opinion know that, in concordance with the statutory responsibilities of the temporary presidency of UNASUR, at the behest of the Republic of Ecuador and after consulting member states, an extraordinary meeting of the Counsel of Foreign Ministers of the Union has been convened on Sunday August 19 in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. | A statement released on the website of the foreign ministry of Peru, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the intergovernmental union, said: "The Foreign Ministry of Peru lets public opinion know that, in concordance with the statutory responsibilities of the temporary presidency of UNASUR, at the behest of the Republic of Ecuador and after consulting member states, an extraordinary meeting of the Counsel of Foreign Ministers of the Union has been convened on Sunday August 19 in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. |
| "The meeting has been requested with the intention of considering the situation raised at the embassy of Ecuador in the United Kingdom." | "The meeting has been requested with the intention of considering the situation raised at the embassy of Ecuador in the United Kingdom." |