Julian Assange to be questioned in Ecuadorian embassy

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will be questioned by Swedish prosecutors inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, a media report said on Thursday.

The Ecuadorian attorney general delivered a document agreeing to a request by the Swedish prosecutor to question Assange over a rape allegation, which he denies, the Guardian reported.

"In the coming weeks, a date will be established for the proceedings to be held at the embassy of Ecuador in the UK," a statement issued in Ecuador said.

Assange has been living inside the embassy for more than four years and has been granted political asylum by Ecuador.

"Ecuador's foreign ministry reiterates its commitment to the asylum granted to Julian Assange in August 2012, and reaffirms that the protection afforded by the Ecuadorian state shall continue while the circumstances persist that led to the granting of asylum, namely fears of political persecution," the Guardian quoted the statement as saying.

Assange had earlier offered to be questioned inside the embassy but Swedish prosecutors have only recently agreed.

The whistleblower sought asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden because he feared he would then be sent to the US and put on trial for releasing secret American documents.

--IANS

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