WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange WILL be questioned over sex assault allegations after Swedish police 'strike a deal with the Ecuadorian embassy where he fled three years ago'

  • Mr Assange to be quizzed about sex assault claims at London embassy 
  • Ecuador has struck a deal with Swedish prosecutors to allow questioning 
  • Mr Assange has been living in embassy in Knightsbridge, West London 
  • Ecuador says he can go into exile in its country if he is not charged

WikiLeaks founder: Julian Assange will be questioned at the embassy where he has been holed up for three years over allegations of sex assault

WikiLeaks founder: Julian Assange will be questioned at the embassy where he has been holed up for three years over allegations of sex assault

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will finally be questioned over rape and assault allegations after Swedish police struck a deal with Ecuador for him to be interviewed at the London embassy he fled to more than three years ago. 

In a significant breakthrough in the case 44-year-old Mr Assange is to face questions about the claims without having to leave the building, Ecuador's president has announced. 

President Rafael Correa said the Swedish authorities will submit questions to Ecuadorian officials, who will then quiz Mr Assange about them.

‘This is finally going to happen, what could have been done three years ago,’ Mr Correa added.

Mr Assange has been living in the embassy in Knightsbridge, West London, for more than three years and has been granted political asylum by the Ecuador government.

Ecuador said last week that he can leave his hideout in its embassy and go into exile in the South American country if Swedish prosecutors do not charge him after questioning him.

In an interview on public radio, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said: ‘If they don't charge him, he can leave.

'We hope we won't have any problem with the United Kingdom. He would likely come to Ecuador, because he has already been granted asylum in our country.’

Officers: Last October police stopped standing guard outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the first time in more than three years. Scotland Yard had faced criticism about the £12.6million cost of the operation

Officers: Last October police stopped standing guard outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the first time in more than three years. Scotland Yard had faced criticism about the £12.6million cost of the operation

Australian Mr Assange is wanted for questioning in Sweden over sex assault allegations against two women, which he has always denied.

He fears being transported to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks if he goes to Sweden. 

But Mr Assange has said in the past that he would welcome being questioned at the embassy.

Last October police officers stopped standing guard outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the first time in more than three years.

Announcement: Ecuador's President Rafael Correa (pictured yesterday in Quito) said the Swedish authorities will submit questions to Ecuadorian officials, who will then quiz Mr Assange about them

Announcement: Ecuador's President Rafael Correa (pictured yesterday in Quito) said the Swedish authorities will submit questions to Ecuadorian officials, who will then quiz Mr Assange about them

Scotland Yard said at the time that it had removed the permanent guard of officers who have been stationed outside ready to arrest Mr Assange since 2012 - at a total cost of £12.6million.

Ecuador¿s Foreign Minister: Ricardo Patino said Mr Assange can go into exile in the South American country if Swedish prosecutors do not charge him

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister: Ricardo Patino said Mr Assange can go into exile in the South American country if Swedish prosecutors do not charge him

The controversial activist has been living in the embassy to avoid being extradited to Sweden over rape allegations.

The Metropolitan Police previously said that while they were removing the 24/7 guard outside the embassy they will still do their best to arrest the WikiLeaks founder.

The outspoken former computer hacker still faces immediate arrest should he emerge from the embassy, with police assuring 'every effort' would be made to detain him in order that he can be extradited.

The police's decision to end their round-the-clock surveillance came after repeated attacks on the cost of the operation.

Officers insist that they will not relent in their efforts to arrest Mr Assange, who was accused of rape by a Swedish woman after visiting the country five years ago.

He denies the allegation, but says he cannot travel to Sweden to stand trial lest he be extradited to the US, where he fears prosecution over WikiLeaks' publication of secret military and diplomatic records.

Three charges of sexual assault were dropped by Swedish prosecutors in August due to the statue of limitations.

Turned into a film: Mr Assange was portrayed by actor Benedict Cumberbatch in 2013 movie The Fifth Estate

Turned into a film: Mr Assange was portrayed by actor Benedict Cumberbatch in 2013 movie The Fifth Estate

Mr Assange has been granted asylum by Ecuador on political grounds, but is reported to have annoyed embassy staff and become frustrated at being confined to just a few rooms, with a small balcony giving him his only chance to get fresh air.

This is finally going to happen, what could have been done three years ago 
Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador

The country's Left-wing government is believed to have considered a series of plans to smuggle Mr Assange out of the UK - including appointing him an Ecuadorian diplomat or disguising him in fancy dress.

Swedish officials had said towards the end of last year that they were optimistic about reaching an agreement with Ecuador which could pave the way for the questioning of Mr Assange in London.

Justice ministry spokesman Cecilia Riddselius said talks between Swedish officials and their counterparts in Ecuador had been 'very good, very constructive' and could lead to a general agreement on legal cooperation 'in time for Christmas'. 

FROM WIKILEAKS FOUNDER TO ECUADORIAN EMBASSY REFUGEE

Concerns: Mr Assange (pictured) fears being transported to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks if he goes to Sweden

Concerns: Mr Assange (pictured) fears being transported to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks if he goes to Sweden

October 2006 – Julian Assange sets up WikiLeaks for anonymous whistleblowers

April 2010 – WikiLeaks reveals a video called Collateral Murder, showing two US military teams shooting a group of men from Apache helicopters. Among those killed were two Reuters war correspondents

July 2010 – WikiLeaks releases US logs from the Afghan War, which includes civilian casualties and the names of alleged NATO informers

August 2010 - During a visit to Sweden a prosecutor orders Mr Assange's arrest for rape and molestation, though this is terminated five days later

September 2010 – After reviewing the original claim, the investigation is renewed by Swedish prosecutors. Mr Assange is arrested in his absence

October 2010 – Iraq War logs are released – the biggest single leak in US military history

November 2010 – A quarter of a million unclassified and confidential diplomatic cables are published by WikiLeaks. US Attorney-General Eric Holder confirms there is 'an active, ongoing criminal investigation' into WikiLeaks. Swedish prosecutors issue an international warrant for Mr Assange's arrest

December 2010 – US vice president Joe Biden dubs Mr Assange a 'terrorist'. He is arrested by British police and later released on bail

February 2011 – A High Court in London approves Sweden's extradition request

April 2011 – WikiLeaks publishes files from Guantanamo Bay revealing details of detainees

November 2011 – High Court dismisses Mr Assange's appeal against extradition. He takes it to the UK's Supreme Court

May 2012 – Supreme Court upholds the High Court's decision to surrender Mr Assange to Sweden

June 2012 – Mr Assange requests the appeal to be re-opened; Supreme Court rejects this request. Mr Assange then seeks political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London

August 2012 – Ecuador grants Mr Assange asylum, saying there are fears his human rights might be violated if he is extradited

August 2014 – Mr Assange reveals plans to leave the embassy 'soon'

November 2014 – Sweden's Court of Appeal upholds the arrest warrant against Mr Assange

August 2015 – Swedish prosecutors drop their investigation into two allegations - one of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion because they have run out of time to question him. But he still faces the more serious accusation of rape. He continues to deny all the allegations

October 2015 – Metropolitan Police announces that officers will no longer be stationed outside the Ecuadorian embassy

January 2016 – Ecuador's president announces Mr Assange will be questioned at the embassy where he has been holed up for more than three years over allegations of sex assault.