by Akan Ido

The Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange has been granted asylum by the Ecuadorian government. Assange had taken to the South-American country’s embassy since June while fighting his extradition from the United Kingdom to Sweden.

Mr. Assange is wanted in Sweden to answer to assault and rape charges.

The Ecuador Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino, had accused the UK government of threatening to violate its sovereignty by entering its embassy to arrest Assange.

Patino said his country fears Assange’s rights may be violated prompting it to make necessary steps to protect him in line with Ecuador’s diplomatic tradition.

The UK government are not backing down with this news, they have responded by saying Assange will not be allowed safe passage to leave the UK for Ecuador. They threaten he will be arrested if he dares to step out of the embassy.

The Wikileaks website Mr. Assange founded published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables in 2010 which greatly embarrassed several governments, including that of the US.

He fears the Swedish government will hand him over to the United States government if he is taken to the Scandinavian country for trial.