Britain says to protest to Ecuador over whistleblower asylum
Britain says it will lodge a formal protest to Ecuador over the Wikileaks founder who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for nearly three years.
Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office says its embassy in Quito will be making a formal protest to the Ecuadorian government for the decision to give Julian Assange a diplomatic cover. “Ecuador's decision to harbor Assange has prevented the proper course of justice and is being seen as a growing stain on the country's reputation."
The remarks came after Swedish prosecutors announced that they are formally dropping investigation into some of the allegations against Assange.
Prosecutors have been investigating claims of rape and sexual assault that allegedly took place in 2010. On Thursday, they said they ran out of time to question Assange. But said they would continue to pursue an interview with the WikiLeaks founder over a rape allegation.
The Australian whistleblower who denies all allegations has expressed disappointment saying the prosecutors could not take into account his side of the story.
Assange’s legal team has also criticized the conduct of the investigation. "Julian has not evaded. He has continually offered his testimony and co-operation, and agreed unconditionally to being questioned in the embassy”.
Assange has been in the Ecuadorian Embassy since 2012 and has secured political asylum from the South American country after he lost a legal battle against extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over allegations.
Meanwhile, Britain has once again pledged to extradite Assange. "I want to make clear that as an allegation of abuse remains outstanding, the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden." Hugo Swire, a Minister of State said.
It is believed that Assange’s extradition is a cover for sending him to the US, where he is wanted over the release of thousands of classified US documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on his whistleblower website.
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