WikiLeaks man remains in embassy

The 40-year-old Australian has been inside the building in Knightsbridge since Tuesday afternoon, when he went there to request political asylum under the United Nations Human Rights Declaration.

Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, was expected to make a decision on Mr Assange’s application yesterday.

If it is refused, Mr Assange faces arrest for breaching the terms of his bail if he leaves the Ecuadorian Embassy.

The South American country, whose UK ambassador Anna Alban met the Government on Wednesday, says he is under its protection while it considers the application, which comes after his failed bid to avoid extradition to Sweden under a European arrest warrant to face sex crime allegations.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed in a statement that he was “beyond the reach of the police” while he remains in the building.

The Metropolitan Police said it had been told at 10.20pm on Tuesday that Mr Assange had breached a condition of the £200,000 bail imposed by the High Court, that he stay at a bail address between 10pm and 8am. A spokeswoman added: “He is now subject to arrest under the Bail Act for breach of these conditions.”