Assange hails Ecuador over ‘stand for justice’

The Australian, who has taken refuge in the embassy in an attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning on sexual assault allegations, also called on the United States to end what he said was its “war on whistleblowers”.

Last week it was announced he had been granted political asylum, sparking a diplomatic row between Ecuador, Sweden and the Government, which insists it is legally obliged to hand him over.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has made it clear that Mr Assange will not be allowed safe passage out of the country. Mr Assange denies the allegations and fears being transferred to America if he travels to contest them.

He enraged the US government in 2010 when his WikiLeaks website published tranches of secret US diplomatic cables. Bradley Manning, a US army intelligence analyst suspected of leaking the information, is being held at an American military base. He has been charged and faces up to 52 years in jail.

Mr Assange told a crowd of supporters outside the embassy: “As WikiLeaks stands under threat, so does the freedom of expression and the health of all our societies. We must use this moment to articulate the choice that is before the government of the United States of America.”

He added there must be no “foolish talk” of prosecuting media organisations, be it WikiLeaks or be it the New York Times newspaper.