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| Julian Assange row could end tomorrow - Rafael Correa | Julian Assange row could end tomorrow - Rafael Correa |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The diplomatic row over Julian Assange "could be ended tomorrow" if Britain gave him safe passage to Ecuador, the country's president has told the BBC. | The diplomatic row over Julian Assange "could be ended tomorrow" if Britain gave him safe passage to Ecuador, the country's president has told the BBC. |
| Rafael Correa said if not the situation "could go on for months and years". | Rafael Correa said if not the situation "could go on for months and years". |
| Ecuadorean embassy officials said they had had no contact with UK officials for a week, after the country granted asylum to the Wikileaks founder, who is fighting extradition to Sweden. | Ecuadorean embassy officials said they had had no contact with UK officials for a week, after the country granted asylum to the Wikileaks founder, who is fighting extradition to Sweden. |
| However on Thursday the Foreign Office sent the London officials a letter. | However on Thursday the Foreign Office sent the London officials a letter. |
| Mr Assange, 41, has been at Ecuador's London embassy since June in a bid to avoid being sent to Sweden over sex assault claims, which he denies. | Mr Assange, 41, has been at Ecuador's London embassy since June in a bid to avoid being sent to Sweden over sex assault claims, which he denies. |
| Officials from the country earlier told an embassy briefing it would be an indication of "good faith" if Britain withdrew its "threat" to arrest the Wikileaks founder. | Officials from the country earlier told an embassy briefing it would be an indication of "good faith" if Britain withdrew its "threat" to arrest the Wikileaks founder. |
| But the UK has insisted it has a "legal obligation" to see Mr Assange sent to Sweden, where prosecutors want to question him. It has previously indicated that the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 provided it with powers to enter the embassy to arrest him. | But the UK has insisted it has a "legal obligation" to see Mr Assange sent to Sweden, where prosecutors want to question him. It has previously indicated that the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 provided it with powers to enter the embassy to arrest him. |
| The UK has also made clear he will be arrested if he leaves the embassy - several police officers were stationed outside on Thursday - but it hopes for a "diplomatic solution". | The UK has also made clear he will be arrested if he leaves the embassy - several police officers were stationed outside on Thursday - but it hopes for a "diplomatic solution". |
| Whatever the contents of the Foreign Office's letter to the Ecuadorean embassy, it will not end the stand-off. | |
| An FCO source said it was aimed at "calming things down" and allowing talks to resume. | |
| Meanwhile, embassy officials have revealed that they have bought a bigger fridge because the small embassy has no proper kitchen. | |
| It was the ambassador herself who brought the air mattress that Mr Assange originally slept on - from her own home. She said: "He can stay as long as she wants." | |
| But she told journalists, with a smile, that Britain need not fear that officials will be involved in any attempt to smuggle him out. | |
| "I can open the door if he wants," she said. "But I will not help him escape." | |
| In an interview with the BBC, Mr Correa said: "This could end tomorrow if the UK grants safe passage, or it could go on for months and years if Mr Assange can't leave the embassy of Ecuador in London." | In an interview with the BBC, Mr Correa said: "This could end tomorrow if the UK grants safe passage, or it could go on for months and years if Mr Assange can't leave the embassy of Ecuador in London." |
| 'No approach' | 'No approach' |
| During the London embassy briefing, officials said they were hopeful a "compromise" could be found but said the Australian national could stay inside the London embassy for "as long as it takes". | During the London embassy briefing, officials said they were hopeful a "compromise" could be found but said the Australian national could stay inside the London embassy for "as long as it takes". |
| "He can stay here for eight years... two centuries. However long he wants," said one. | "He can stay here for eight years... two centuries. However long he wants," said one. |
| The officials said they were "surprised" the UK government had not withdrawn its "threat" to enter the embassy. It was not a condition of talks being held, but would be an "indication of good faith". | The officials said they were "surprised" the UK government had not withdrawn its "threat" to enter the embassy. It was not a condition of talks being held, but would be an "indication of good faith". |
| A Foreign Office official called the embassy a week ago after Mr Assange was granted asylum. | A Foreign Office official called the embassy a week ago after Mr Assange was granted asylum. |
| An Ecuadorean embassy official added: "The Foreign Office has been contacting many South American countries in the past week indicating they wanted to open conversations again with the Ecuador government - but they have made no approach." | An Ecuadorean embassy official added: "The Foreign Office has been contacting many South American countries in the past week indicating they wanted to open conversations again with the Ecuador government - but they have made no approach." |
| Air bed | Air bed |
| Foreign ministers from across South America are due to meet on Friday to discuss the situation. | Foreign ministers from across South America are due to meet on Friday to discuss the situation. |
| On the eve of the meeting, the UK Foreign Office said it had sent the Ecuadorean embassy an official letter, though it declined to say what it contained. | On the eve of the meeting, the UK Foreign Office said it had sent the Ecuadorean embassy an official letter, though it declined to say what it contained. |
| In a statement, the FCO added: "As we made clear, we remain committed to a diplomatic solution." | In a statement, the FCO added: "As we made clear, we remain committed to a diplomatic solution." |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said Britain had always insisted it wanted to negotiate a solution with Ecuador through dialogue and probably wanted to reiterate that point ahead of Friday's meeting, where it expects a large majority of Latin American countries to side with Ecuador. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said Britain had always insisted it wanted to negotiate a solution with Ecuador through dialogue and probably wanted to reiterate that point ahead of Friday's meeting, where it expects a large majority of Latin American countries to side with Ecuador. |
| Meanwhile, details have emerged of the actions staff at the embassy took when Mr Assange arrived there without warning on 14 June. | Meanwhile, details have emerged of the actions staff at the embassy took when Mr Assange arrived there without warning on 14 June. |
| An air bed had to be brought from the home of the Ecuadorean ambassador so Mr Assange could sleep in one of the rooms in the ground floor of the building. | An air bed had to be brought from the home of the Ecuadorean ambassador so Mr Assange could sleep in one of the rooms in the ground floor of the building. |
| Officials said it was a "big surprise" when he arrived. | Officials said it was a "big surprise" when he arrived. |
| They said that up to 50 police officers arrived at the embassy last week soon after it was revealed the UK had notified Ecuador of its powers to withdrew the embassy's diplomatic status and enter the building - with some climbing a fire escape and one standing outside a toilet. | They said that up to 50 police officers arrived at the embassy last week soon after it was revealed the UK had notified Ecuador of its powers to withdrew the embassy's diplomatic status and enter the building - with some climbing a fire escape and one standing outside a toilet. |
| Officials said they had a "business" relationship with Mr Assange, adding that life at embassy had now returned to normal. | Officials said they had a "business" relationship with Mr Assange, adding that life at embassy had now returned to normal. |
| Sex assault claims | Sex assault claims |
| The UK Supreme Court in May dismissed Mr Assange's bid to reopen his appeal against extradition and gave him a two-week grace period before extradition proceedings could start. | The UK Supreme Court in May dismissed Mr Assange's bid to reopen his appeal against extradition and gave him a two-week grace period before extradition proceedings could start. |
| The US is carrying out an investigation into Wikileaks, which has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables, embarrassing several governments and international businesses. | The US is carrying out an investigation into Wikileaks, which has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables, embarrassing several governments and international businesses. |
| In 2010, two female ex-Wikileaks volunteers accused Mr Assange of committing sexual offences against them while he was in Stockholm to give a lecture. | In 2010, two female ex-Wikileaks volunteers accused Mr Assange of committing sexual offences against them while he was in Stockholm to give a lecture. |
| He claims the sex was consensual and the allegations are politically motivated. He says he fears extradition to the US if extradited to Sweden because of his website's publication of confidential documents. | He claims the sex was consensual and the allegations are politically motivated. He says he fears extradition to the US if extradited to Sweden because of his website's publication of confidential documents. |