UK seeks to resume talks with Ecuador over Assange

The British Government has reportedly written to Ecuadorian embassy to resume talks over the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

London: The British Government has reportedly written to the Ecuadorian embassy in London to resume talks over the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Assange has been holed up in the embassy since June 19 in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where is wanted for questioning over allegations of sexual assault. The Foreign Office confirmed a ‘formal communication’ had been sent to diplomats from Ecuador, which granted Assange political asylum last week, the Daily Express reports. The UK government said that Assange will be arrested if he steps outside of the embassy after jumping bail. Ecuador`s President said the diplomatic row ‘could be ended tomorrow’ if Britain gave the activist safe passage to the South American country. Ecuador expressed optimism that a ‘compromise’ could be reached with the UK and called for fresh talks over Assange`s future. The county also urged the UK to drop threats to enter the embassy and arrest Assange. According to the report, the Foreign Office official said withdrawing the threat to enter the embassy was not a condition of talks being held, but it would be an ‘indication of good faith’. ANI