Calls for Assange stand-off to end

Foreign ministers from the American continent have urged Britain and Ecuador to peacefully end the stand-off over Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Assange, who is wanted in Sweden for questioning on sex allegations, has been granted political asylum by the South American country and spent the last two months holed up in its London embassy.

The UK government has made it clear the Australian activist will be arrested and extradited if he steps outside the building after jumping bail.

Ecuador also claims that Britain has threatened to storm the embassy and detain 41-year-old Assange in a move that would violate diplomatic conventions.

The Organisation of American States (OAS) met in Washington to discuss the situation and passed a motion backing the “inviolability of diplomatic missions”.

Senior officials from the 34-member bloc also urged the two sides to continue a dialogue to resolve the row.

The UK government has warned that it can legally enter the embassy and arrest Mr Assange under the 1987 Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act, but Foreign Secretary William Hague has said there is no intention to “storm” the building.