London: Members of the Organisation of American States (OAS) have passed a motion backing the ‘inviolability of diplomatic missions’ amid the row between the British government and Ecuador over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Ecuador called for the OAS vote, saying the UK had threatened to storm the embassy, where Assange has been holed up since June 19 in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.
The resolution was, however, reworded after the UK insisted it had made no threat.
According to the BBC, the resolution expressed solidarity with Ecuador, but there was no reference to any threat against his country`s embassy in London.
The meeting of the OAS, which represents 35 South America nations, was called by Ecuador after it received a letter from the UK last week.
The UK said it will not allow Assange safe passage out of the country, and would arrest him as soon as he steps out of the Ecuador embassy in London.
The Foreign Office later said the letter had been sent to clarify ‘all aspects of British law that Ecuador should be aware of’.
Patino called on the UK to withdraw its threat and guarantee it would not storm the diplomatic mission.
ANI
