UK: Talks over Assange still deadlocked

2012-09-18 17:26

Julian Assange making a statement from a balcony of the Equador Embassy in London. (Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP)

London - British Foreign Secretary William Hague says talks with Ecuador over the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remain deadlocked.

Assange, who is seeking to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning over sex crimes allegations, has been sheltering inside Ecuador's embassy in London - beyond the reach of British police - since 19 June.

Ecuador has granted Assange asylum, but he will be arrested if he steps foot outside the small, central London mission.

Hague told lawmakers on Tuesday that talks are continuing.

Assange claims the Swedish sex case is part of plot to make him stand trial in the United States over his work with WikiLeaks, which has published large troves of secret US documents. Sweden and Washington reject the claim.

- AP