Assange defies a surrender request

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange yesterday refused to comply with a British police request to surrender himself to officers, saying he will remain inside the Embassy of Ecuador while his application for political asylum is processed.

The issues faced by Mr Assange are serious. His life and liberty... are at stake

The 40-year-old has been inside the Embassy in London since last week, seeking political asylum as part of his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning about alleged sex offences.

He was served with a letter from the Metropolitan Police requesting that he surrender himself to Belgravia police station at 11.30 a.m.

In a statement read out on his behalf, Mr Assange said he had been advised that he should decline to comply with the police request, adding: “This should not be considered any sign of disrespect. Under both international and domestic UK law, asylum assessments take priority over extradition claims.”

Mr Assange is under diplomatic protection in the embassy and cannot be arrested unless he steps outside the building in Knightsbridge.

Mr Assange, a computer expert who is on £200,000 bail, faces accusations of raping a woman and sexually molesting and coercing another in Stockholm in August 2010 while on a visit to give a lecture.

The Australian claims the sex was consensual and the allegations against him are politically motivated.

The WikiLeaks website has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and inter­national businesses.

Last month the Supreme Court upheld a High Court ruling that Mr Assange’s extradition was legal. Last week the same court refused his attempt to reopen his appeal against extradition, saying it was “without merit”.

Ecuador is currently considering Mr Assange’s application for asylum in the South American country.

A statement read outside the embassy by Susan Benn from the Julian Assange Defence Fund said:

“The issues faced by Mr Assange are serious. His life and liberty and the life and liberty of his organisation and those associated with it are at stake.

“There is irrefutable evidence in the public record of subpoenas being issued and witnesses being compelled to testify against Mr Assange...

“So it is clear that there is a legal process in place that will result in taking Julian to the US, which if allowed to succeed, would violate his basic rights.

“It is in this context that Julian has made the difficult decision to seek refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy to ask for asylum.

“Julian will remain in the Embassy under the protection of the Ecuadorian government while evidence for his application is being assembled and processed.”