Assange talks break down

TALKS between the UK and Ecuador over the future of Julian Assange at its London embassy have broken down, the South American country’s Foreign Minister said.

Maria Fernanda Espinosa suggested British officials had been unwilling to negotiate over the WikiLeaks founder’s potential release.

Earlier this month a judge upheld an arrest warrant issued when Mr Assange, 46, skipped bail as he fought extradition to Sweden in 2012.

He has been at the embassy ever since, as he fears extradition to the US for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks.

Ecuador said it would continue to protect Mr Assange’s rights, however there was a risk to his physical and psychological well-being after spending nearly six years in the building as a “refugee”.

The country has assessed options for granting diplomatic immunity, although Ecuador said it would respect UK laws.

In November Ms Espinosa said Mr Assange had been granted Ecuadorian citizenship.

The Foreign Minister said Ecuador was trying to make Mr Assange a member of its diplomatic team, which would grant him additional rights under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations – including legal immunity and safe passage.

Last week, former Cabinet minister Sir Patrick McLoughlin said the first three years of Mr Assange’s stay in the embassy had cost the Metropolitan Police an additional £11m.