THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Police will arrest Julian Assange even if he is granted asylum with one legal expert claiming his only way out of the country is becoming Ecuador's representative to the UN.The WikiLeaks founder has spent the past two nights holed up in the South American country’s London embassy, in an attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning over alleged sex crimes.
He will discover later today if Ecuador plans to grant him asylum.
But it is widely accepted he will still face arrest the minute he walks out of the Knightsbridge building, where police are waiting, as he has breached his bail conditions. He is meant to remain at a bail address in Tunbridge Wells between 10pm and 8am every night while his extradition appeals continue.
Mr Assange, a 40 year-old Australian, cannot be given diplomatic immunity by Ecuador as conferred on other embassy staff, because the Foreign Office would not approve the application.
And even if he were made an Ecuadorian citizen or granted asylum, he would still be liable to be arrested on departure from the embassy.
Speaking on the steps this morning, a policeman told reporters: “I am not aware of any agreements which would allow him safe passage out of the UK.”
Scotland Yard confirmed: “A successful asylum bid does not change the fact that he has breached his bail conditions.” » | Martin Beckford, Home Affairs editor | Thursday, June 21, 2012
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