Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British and Ecuadoran authorities.

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Aug. 16, 2012

Protesters gather outside the Ecuadoran Embassy, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is staying in London. Assange has been living at the embassy since June 19 after requesting political asylum. He is facing extradition to Sweden, where the 41-year-old Australian is wanted for questioning over alleged sex crimes.

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Aug. 16, 2012

Protesters gather outside the Ecuadoran Embassy, where Assange is staying in London. The British Foreign Office made it clear Thursday that Ecuador’s decision to grant asylum does not alter Britain’s intention of fulfilling its legal obligation to extradite Assange.

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Aug. 16, 2012

Reporters gather outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. Assange exhausted all of his legal options in Britain when the country’s Supreme Court upheld Sweden’s extradition request.

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Aug. 16, 2012

Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino addresses the media during a news conference in Quito, announcing the government's decision on Assange. Patino said Ecuador had decided to grant asylum “because of the fears expressed by Mr. Assange, we believe that his fears are legitimate, and there are threats that he could face political persecution if the measures aren’t taken to avoid them.”

/ Reuters

Aug. 16, 2012

Ecuadorans and supporters of Assange stand outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London, where they were awaiting the South American country’s decision on Assange.

Andrew Cowie / AFP/Getty Images

Aug. 16, 2012

British police officers arrest a protester who was showing support for Assange in front of the Ecuadoran Embassy. A few dozen officers were stationed outside the building, in London’s upscale neighborhood of Knightsbridge.

Sang Tan / AP

Aug. 16, 2012

An Assange supporter stands outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. It’s not clear what’s next for Assange, who faces arrest the minute he steps foot out of the embassy for breaching one of the conditions of his bail, namely to check in at a designated address between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

Aug. 16, 2012

Supporters of Assange gather outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. Initially, when Assange fled to the embassy June 19, the British government said he was beyond the reach of law enforcement officials. But Patino said Wednesday that British authorities informed them they could “storm” the embassy if Assange was not handed over.

Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

Aug. 16, 2012

A placard placed by Assange supporters is seen outside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London.

Olivia Harris / Reuters

Aug. 16, 2012

An Assange supporter holds a banner outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. His supporters believe he could be tried for espionage in the United States over his whistle-blowing Web site’s release of hundreds of thousands of confidential military logs and diplomatic cables.

Will Oliver / AFP/Getty Images

Aug. 16, 2012

An Assange supporter protests near the steps of the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. Ecuadoran officials revealed Wednesday night that they had received a written warning from Britain saying that British police could enter the embassy to arrest Assange under the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act, a little-known piece of legislation passed in 1987.

Andrew Cowie / AFP/Getty Images

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

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