New law opens exit route for Julian Assange

JULIAN Assange has declared he will leave the Ecuador embassy “soon’’, claiming recent changes to British law may offer him some protection.

AUSTRALIAN WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has declared he will leave the Ecuador embassy “soon’’, claiming recent changes to British law may offer him some protection from immediate extradition to Sweden.

In an hour-long news conference inside the embassy in London, where he has been living under diplomatic protection for the past two years, Mr Assange discounted recent health fears, ­focusing instead on the legal ­developments that mean a person in Britain must have formal charges laid against them before they can be extradited. Under the previous law, people could be extradited if they were suspected of an offence.

Looking slightly dishevelled in an open shirt and jacket, Mr ­Assange said with a wry smile: “I am leaving the embassy soon.’’

He stressed that he had not been charged with any offence since his ordeal started more than four years ago and highlighted the expense of the 24-hour police presence outside the embassy, which had cost the British government more than $10 million.

He refused to divulge further details about how and when he would leave the embassy, adding further confusion to an already complex case.

Mr Assange said he was not leaving for health reasons, despite reports that indicated he might have heart and lung problems and a vitamin-D deficiency because of a lack of sunlight.

There is no outdoor area at the embassy.

Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, who sat by Mr ­Assange, said he would seek an urgent meeting with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to co-ordinate an international response to the Assange situation.

“We believe the recent reports (of the legal changes) indicate a better climate for us to reach an agreement,’’ Mr Patino said.

He noted that it had been a “lost’’ two years for everybody.

“We continue to offer him our protection,” Mr Patino said.

Sweden has sought Mr ­Assange’s extradition from Britain to face questioning over sexual assault allegations.

Mr Assange fears that once he is taken to Sweden, the US will seek to have him extradited there so that it can take legal action against him over leaks of US information through WikiLeaks.

Mr Assange said the legal changes had shown Ecuador’s position in offering him support had been the correct one. He hinted that the reforms would offer him some protection to be able to leave London and fly to Ecuador without being arrested by the team of Scotland Yard officers regularly stationed outside the embassy.

However, it appears Mr ­Assange is seeking further assurances from the British government that he won’t be extradited.

Legal experts claim that despite the new reforms Mr Assange would still be liable to extradition within 10 days if he was charged as soon as he left the embassy.