Assange case: OAS gives Ecuador partial support

GlobalPost

The Organization of American States has decided to back Ecuador, declaring "solidarity and support" with the nation over granting asylum for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

However, the states have also urged a peaceful resolution between Ecuador and Britain, asking the two countries to "continue to engage in dialogue in order to settle their current differences in accordance with international law, taking into account the statements made recently by authorities of both governments," the AFP reported.

Assange is currently at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, evading extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questions over allegations that he sexually assaulted two former Wikileaks volunteers.

The UK has stated firmly that if Assange leaves the building, he will be both arrested and extradited, even though Ecuador has granted the Australian activist asylum.

Rafael Correa, the President of Ecuador has said that "the window of dialogue" between Ecuador and the UK has "never been closed." However, he said that he refused "to give up our principles, nor the human rights of Mr Assange," the AFP reported.

"As a consequence, we'll continue to demand what we've been demanding from the beginning: if Mr Assange goes to Sweden to face Swedish justice, as is his will and as is our will, he should receive a guarantee that he will not be extradited to a third country."

Assange has stated concern that if he is extradited to Sweden, he may be prosecuted in the United States for releasing confidential US government files, though a Reuters report earlier in the week indicated the US was unlikely to pursue charges.  

For more information about the Julian Assange case, check out GlobalPost's infographic on the war of the words. See GlobalPost's coverage of the Assange Asylum case here.   

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