Ecuador Says Assange Standoff At Impasse

Ecuador’s foreign minister says talks with Britain to end a standoff over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are at an impasse.

Ricardo Patino was speaking on June 19, the day two years ago when Assange fled to Ecuador’s embassy in London.

Assange has been staying there to avoid extradition to Sweden where he faces charges of sexual assault and rape, which he denies.

Assange says he fears Sweden could turn him over to the United State where he is wanted for one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history.

Britain has surrounded the embassy with police officers round the clock ready to detain him if he leaves it.

Scotland Yard said on June 19 that the cost of the operation at the embassy now tops $10 million.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters