Ecuador says ready to shelter Assange for years
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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Ecuador said on Wednesday it is prepared to shelter Julian Assange inside its London embassy for years if necessary as it negotiates the WikiLeaks founder's fate with Britain and Sweden.
Mr Assange meanwhile called on the United States (US) to halt its "persecution" of WikiLeaks and its supporters in a video link message at the United Nations (UN) headquarters organised by Ecuador.
Mr Assange will spend his 100th day in the embassy on Thursday as British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino hold talks on the activist, who is wanted in Sweden for questioning on charges of sexual assault but fears eventual extradition to the United States.
Mr Patino told diplomats, officials and journalists at the UN meeting that his government was ready to protect Mr Assange for 10 years if necessary.
