Ecuador gave asylum to Julian Assange

Ecuador gave political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, two months after he took refuge in the South American country's embassy in London.

Assange is trying to avoid extradition from Britain to Sweden.

Ecuador said they were worried about the possibility of Assange's rights are violated.

Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino accused Britain of "threat" to enter the embassy and held.

Assange refuge at the embassy of Ecuador in June. He hunted in Sweden for questioning related to rape allegations. But he denied the allegations.

The Foreign Office said the decision to grant political asylum would not affect the legal obligation to extradite Assange UK to Sweden.
'Protecting vulnerable people'


The ministry said, "We continue to seek a negotiated settlement that allows us to carry out obligations under the Extradition Act."

The British government will still try to hold him and not let Assange out of the embassy. When he came out, he would be arrested.

Foreign Minister of Ecuador, Patino said his government believed that Assange fears over political repression was "legitimate".

He said his country was still running tradition of protecting the vulnerable.

"We believe that our friendship with the British stay in touch," he added.

The announcement was witnessed directly by Assange and embassy staff told a news conference via video from Quito.