Ecuador has reportedly granted asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, according to the Guardian newspaper. The daily quotes officials close to the Ecuadorian President in the capital, Quito.
Assange requested political asylum after the British Supreme Court refused to reopen his appeal against extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over alleged sex crimes. The WikiLeaks founder has been holed up in the country’s London embassy since June 19.
The asylum guarantees him safe passage from the UK to Ecuador, says Professor Donald Rothwell from the Australian National University College of Law.