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Ecuador asks UK for help on embassy bug | Ecuador asks UK for help on embassy bug |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ecuador has asked the UK to help an investigation over alleged spying at its embassy in London where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is living. | Ecuador has asked the UK to help an investigation over alleged spying at its embassy in London where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is living. |
Ecuador named a British company it claimed planted a listening device in their ambassador's office but this was denied. | Ecuador named a British company it claimed planted a listening device in their ambassador's office but this was denied. |
Mr Assange has been staying at the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden. | Mr Assange has been staying at the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden. |
He is wanted there for questioning over allegations by two women of sexual offences - which he denies. | He is wanted there for questioning over allegations by two women of sexual offences - which he denies. |
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told a news conference in Quito the bug was found last month when Ecuadorean technicians reviewed the embassy's wiring. | Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told a news conference in Quito the bug was found last month when Ecuadorean technicians reviewed the embassy's wiring. |
The purpose of the bug, which was hidden inside an electrical socket, was to listen to the conversations of Ambassador Ana Alban in her office, Mr Patino said. | The purpose of the bug, which was hidden inside an electrical socket, was to listen to the conversations of Ambassador Ana Alban in her office, Mr Patino said. |
Mr Assange lives and works in a different room in the embassy. | Mr Assange lives and works in a different room in the embassy. |
'Wholly untrue' | |
Mr Patino said: "We have reason to believe that the bugging was carried out by The Surveillance Group Limited, one of the largest private investigation and covert surveillance companies in the United Kingdom." | |
The system worked with a Sim card and could be activated by a call from any mobile or fixed-line phone, he added. | The system worked with a Sim card and could be activated by a call from any mobile or fixed-line phone, he added. |
The Surveillance Group, which is based in Worcester, Herefordshire, said Mr Patino's allegation was "wholly untrue". | The Surveillance Group, which is based in Worcester, Herefordshire, said Mr Patino's allegation was "wholly untrue". |
Chief executive Timothy Young said: "We have this morning heard an accusation the source of which is apparently Ricardo Patino, the Ecuadorean foreign minister suggesting that we have bugged the Ecuadorean embassy. | Chief executive Timothy Young said: "We have this morning heard an accusation the source of which is apparently Ricardo Patino, the Ecuadorean foreign minister suggesting that we have bugged the Ecuadorean embassy. |
"This is completely untrue. The Surveillance Group do not and have never been engaged in any activities of this nature. | "This is completely untrue. The Surveillance Group do not and have never been engaged in any activities of this nature. |
"We have not been contacted by any member of the Ecuadorean government and our first notification about this incident was via the press this morning." | "We have not been contacted by any member of the Ecuadorean government and our first notification about this incident was via the press this morning." |
The UK and Ecuador have failed to reach agreement on how to deal with Julian Assange, who faces arrest if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy. | |
Mr Patino wants the UK to guarantee Mr Assange safe passage to Ecuador, but the UK maintains it has a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. | |
Mr Assange's organisation Wikileaks says it is advising US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who is reportedly seeking asylum in more than 20 countries to avoid extradition to the US. | |
Mr Snowden, who is currently thought to be in Moscow airport, is wanted on charges of leaking secrets he gathered while working as a contractor for the National Security Agency - America's electronic spying agency. |