staff reporter,London(wp/es):
Julian Assange can be questioned by Swedish prosecutors at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, the South American nation’s foreign minister has said.
The WikiLeaks founder has sought refuse in the embassy in Knightsbridge since 2012 as he awaited extradition to Sweden to answer rape allegations.
Foreign minister Ricardo Patino told an Ecuadorian radio station that the country was accepting a request by Sweden to interrogate Assange “as long as the sovereignty of the Ecuadorian state and the laws in the Constitution are respected."
He suggested Swedish authorities could provide Ecuadorian counterparts with the questions and could be allowed a presence during the interrogation.
On Friday, Kristinn Hrafnsson, a spokesman for WikiLeaks, told the Guardian that Mr Assange welcomed the “opportunity to deliver his statement to the prosecutor”.
“Julian has been offering his statement to the prosecutor by various means for five years [in total] and for three-and-a-half years since he went into the embassy – whether via video link or by the prosecutor coming to London.
“Let’s hope [the interview] can be carried out as soon as possible. Julian is very eager to get his point of view into the investigation.”
Mr Assange said he fears he will be extradited to the US over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy.
In October, Scotland Yard announced it was removing the 24-hour police presence at the embassy.
Julian Assange can be questioned by Swedish prosecutors at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, the South American nation’s foreign minister has said.
The WikiLeaks founder has sought refuse in the embassy in Knightsbridge since 2012 as he awaited extradition to Sweden to answer rape allegations.
Foreign minister Ricardo Patino told an Ecuadorian radio station that the country was accepting a request by Sweden to interrogate Assange “as long as the sovereignty of the Ecuadorian state and the laws in the Constitution are respected."
He suggested Swedish authorities could provide Ecuadorian counterparts with the questions and could be allowed a presence during the interrogation.
On Friday, Kristinn Hrafnsson, a spokesman for WikiLeaks, told the Guardian that Mr Assange welcomed the “opportunity to deliver his statement to the prosecutor”.
“Julian has been offering his statement to the prosecutor by various means for five years [in total] and for three-and-a-half years since he went into the embassy – whether via video link or by the prosecutor coming to London.
“Let’s hope [the interview] can be carried out as soon as possible. Julian is very eager to get his point of view into the investigation.”
Mr Assange said he fears he will be extradited to the US over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy.
In October, Scotland Yard announced it was removing the 24-hour police presence at the embassy.
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