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Ecuador weighs Swedish request to question Assange

Published: 18 Jun 2015 - 10:47 am | Last Updated: 12 Jan 2022 - 07:32 pm


Quito--Ecuador said Wednesday it is considering Swedish prosecutors' request to question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over assault allegations.

The Australian fled to the Ecuadoran embassy in London in June 2012, where he has been holed up ever since, to escape extradition to Sweden.

Ecuador is evaluating the request "in the spirit of judicial cooperation" and will make a decision based on international law and "Ecuadoran jurisdiction in the area of asylum rights," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Swedish prosecutors said Monday they had submitted a request to British and Ecuadoran authorities to question Assange in June and July at the embassy.

The 43-year-old Assange says he fears Sweden would in turn extradite him to the United States.

WikiLeaks publication of massive troves of highly sensitive US diplomatic cables and military files in 2010 caused a furore in Washington.

Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange following allegations of  assault.

Assange denies the accusations.

AFP