Assange can leave embassy

Quito – Ecuador’s president said yesterday that conditions have been met for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to leave the country’s embassy in London, which would end a six-year standoff with British authorities.

“The way has been cleared for Mr Assange to take the decision to leave in near-liberty,” President Lenin Moreno said, explaining he still had to answer in Britain for violating the terms of his bail.

Moreno, however, said Britain had guaranteed that the 47-yearold Australian would not be extradited to any country where his life would be in danger.

Ecuador has been seeking a way to terminate Assange’s stay for several months, amid souring relations with its embassy guest, who recently sued Quito for restricting his internet access.

Assange gained international renown by publishing huge caches of hacked State Department and Pentagon files.

The 251 000 classified cables from US embassies – released by WikiLeaks in 2010 and published by leading international newspapers – embarrassed the Bush administration and caused ructions in its bilateral relations. –