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Members of the media await outside the Ecuador embassy in London, Britain 16 August 2012 where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has sought political asylum. EPA/BGNES
Ecuador has strongly protested UK threats to storm its London embassy and officially granted Julian Assange political asylum.
"The government of Ecuador, true to its tradition of protecting those who seek asylum in our diplomatic missions, has decided to grant diplomatic asylum to Mr. Assange," stated Ecuador Minister of Foreign Affairs Ricardo Patino Thursday.
Earlier Patino had revealed that UK authorities intend to lift the diplomatic status of the London embassy's premisses and storm them to capture Assange, who had taken refuge there mid-June.
The Ecuador FM strongly protested the UK move and said his country will seek the broadest international support, in particular that of OAS and UNASUR, to defend its legitimate rights.
"If the measure announced in the British official communication is enacted, it will be interpreted by Ecuador as an unacceptable, unfriendly and hostile act and as an attempt against our sovereignty. It would force us to respond."
Patino pointed out that his country is not a British colony.
The Foreign Minister stated that his government has made a decision on the WikiLeaks founder's request for asylum and will announce it Thursday.
On June 14, Assange lost his last appeal that aimed at blocking his extradition to Sweden to face "sex offence" charges.
The 40-year-old Australian is accused of raping one woman and "sexually molesting and coercing" another in Stockholm in August 2010, but he claims the allegations against him are politically motivated.
Assange's Wikileaks website published material from leaked diplomatic cables embarrassing several governments.
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