Britain, Ecuador agree to set up group to discuss Assange

LONDON, June 17 (UPI) -- British and Ecuadorian diplomatic leaders agreed Monday to set up a working group to resolve WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's living in Ecuador's embassy.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Patino agreed to keep channels of communication open, but that no substantive progress was made to resolve the situation with Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy for nearly a year after British courts said he could be extradited to Sweden for questioning concerning sexual assault and rape charges, which he has denied.

Assange said he fears Sweden would allow him to be extradited to the United States to face potential charges relating to WikiLeaks releases of sensitive diplomatic and defense communications.

"The two ministers held a bilateral meeting this morning for 45 minutes," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Ministers agreed that officials should establish a working group to find a diplomatic solution to the issue of Julian Assange, but no substantive progress was made."

On Wednesday it will be one year since Assange sought asylum at the embassy.

Patino said he met with Assange, who was in "good spirits" despite the "limitations of his accommodation," The Guardian reported.

"I was able to say face-to-face to him, for the first time, that the government of Ecuador remains firmly committed to protecting his human rights and that we continue to seek cast-iron assurances to avoid any onward extradition to a third state," Patino said.

Police have maintained a round-the-clock vigil at the embassy since Assange entered.

Patino previously accused the British government of violating Assange's rights by refusing to allow him to travel to Ecuador.