Julian Assange: Ecuadorian stand-off to go on ‘indefinitely’

Published on 18/08/2012 02:21

Supporters of Julian Assange have pledged to remain outside the Ecuadorean embassy “for as long as necessary”.

Assange has been holed up in the embassy for nearly two months after he skipped bail when his appeal failed against extradition to Sweden – where police want to question him regarding alleged sex crimes.

Despite Assange successfully claiming asylum from Ecuador, the UK government has said it will not give him safe passage out of the country.

About 30 police officers yesterday surrounded the Knightsbridge embassy, next to Harrods, ready to arrest Assange if he steps outside the diplomatically protected zone. A crowd of supporters also gathered. Wikileaks founder Assange has said he will make a statement tomorrow.

One supporter, named only as Jenny, 29, said that the real issue was “his possible extradition to the US for exposing US war crimes”.