Julian Assange seeks asylum in Ecuador embassy

WikiLeaks founder takes refuge in London embassy in bid to avoid extradition to Sweden

Julian Assange sought political asylum at Ecuador's embassy in London yesterday (AP)

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, sought political asylum at Ecuador's embassy in London yesterday in a dramatic attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Mr Assange, who is wanted by authorities in Stockholm to answer to allegations of sex crimes, walked into the embassy in Knightsbridge yesterday afternoon and requested asylum under the United Nations Human Rights Declaration. A statement issued on behalf of the embassy said that Mr Assange would remain at the embassy under the protection of the Ecuadorian government while it considers his application.

"As a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration for Human Rights, with an obligation to review all applications for asylum, we have immediately passed his application on to the relevant department in Quito," the statement said.

Ecuador's Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino, said the Australian had taken refuge at its embassy and that the country's government was weighing up the request. Mr Patino, speaking at a press conference in Ecuador, said Mr Assange had written to the Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, saying he was being persecuted and seeking asylum.

Mr Patino said the Australian had written that he could not return to his home country because it would not block his extradition to "a foreign country that applies the death penalty for the crime of espionage and sedition".

The move follows a long-running legal bid by Mr Assange, 40, to halt his extradition to Sweden, where he is accused of raping a woman and sexually molesting and coercing another in Stockholm in August 2010.

The UK Supreme Court decided on 30 May that extradition was lawful and could go ahead, and last week it refused an attempt by him to reopen his appeal against extradition, saying it was "without merit".

Mr Assange, whose WikiLeaks website has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and international businesses, said the sex was consensual and the allegations are politically motivated.

After his arrest in December 2010, Mr Assange had a number of famous friends and supporters who helped him to raise bail of £240,000. Last night, the socialite and charity fundraiser Jemima Khan, who is thought to have donated a significant amount towards that sum, said on Twitter: "I had expected him to face the allegations. I am as surprised as anyone by this."

In a short statement issued yesterday evening, Mr Assange said: "I can confirm that today I arrived at the Ecuadorian embassy and sought diplomatic sanctuary and political asylum. I am grateful to the Ecuadorian ambassador."