Lawyers studying Assange asylum bid
Lawyers convened by Ecuador’s government are studying the political and legal implications of granting asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the country’s foreign minister said.
Minister Ricardo Patino did not indicate when a decision might come.
Ecuador’s ambassador to Britain returned to Quito over the weekend and discussed the case with Mr Patino and President Rafael Correa.
Assange took refuge in Ecuador’s London Embassy last Tuesday in a last-ditch attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning in the alleged sexual assault of two women.
Assange claims he is being persecuted politically.
The site he runs published tens of thousands of leaked, sensitive US documents before his legal troubles began in late 2010.
Assange said he fears the United States will seek his extradition from Sweden.
