Ecuador set to reveal Assange's asylum bid decision

Quilo, Aug. 14 (ANI): Ecuador could soon reveal its decision on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange asylum, who has been holed up in the country's London Embassy for nearly two months.

Ecuador has not given any indication to Australia whether it intends to grant asylum to Assange, Foreign Minister Bob Carr said.

Ecuador in July had said that it would respond to the request after the Olympic Games in London, which wrapped up on Sunday, and the country's president, Rafael Correa, was due to appear on state television.

But government officials have declined to say whether he announced a decision at that time.

Senator Carr said that Correa has not revealed his decision to Australia.

"That's a matter between him and Julian Assange," news.com.au quoted Carr, as saying.

"I'd just say again - if America were interested in Julian Assange they could have sought his extradition from the UK at any time in the last two years," Carr added.

"If Ecuador does grant asylum to Assange, it will not be embarrassing for Australia", Carr added.

"It wouldn't be remotely embarrassing. It's a matter between him and the Swedes," he added.

Assange sought refuge from Ecuador on June 19 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning about allegations of rape and sexual assault.

The 41-year-old Australian fears he could be extradited to the United States from Sweden to stand trial for espionage over the leaked U.S. diplomatic cables and military logs he published on his whistleblower website. (ANI)

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