Ecuador asks UK to let Assange leave embassy briefly
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadoran officials have asked the United Kingdom to let WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange leave his asylum at country's embassy in London briefly for medical checks. Britain responded Thursday by saying he could have medical care but would be arrested if he leaves the embassy.
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said that Assange needs an MRI for a pain in his shoulder that began three months ago. Assange has been living at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sexual misconduct and rape of two women. He denies the accusations and said he believes that Sweden would send him to the United States to be face charges for the WikiLeaks publication of thousands of classified U.S. government documents.
"We are asking for a special safe conduct pass that lasts a few hours only so he can take a magnetic resonance and return under our protection," Patino said, adding, "and possibly beneath the protection of British police, if they want to put 10,000 police alongside the vehicle to take him to the hospital."
FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, file photo, Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks speaks to the media and members of the public from a balcony at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. British police have removed the officers standing watch over Julian Assange outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, but say they will still do their best to arrest the WikiLeaks founder who has been holed up there since June 2012. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, that Assange is still subject to arrest for failing to answer a rape charge in Sweden. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement that Britain would not "in any way seek to impede Mr. Assange receiving medical advice or care. We have made this clear to the government of Ecuador."
But British officials have also made it clear that Assange faces arrest if he leaves the embassy.
On Monday British police withdrew a 24-hour guard from the building, but said they would still "deploy a number of overt and covert tactics" to arrest Assange if he left.
Patino said an option would be for another country or the Red Cross to bring a portable MRI machine to the embassy.
General view of the Ecuadorian Embassy, in London, Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. British police have removed the officers standing watch over Julian Assange outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, but say they will still do their best to arrest the WikiLeaks founder who has been holed up there since June 2012. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement Monday that Assange is still subject to arrest for failing to answer a rape charge in Sweden. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
A pizza is delivered to the Embassy of Ecuador, in London, Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. British police have removed the officers standing watch over Julian Assange outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, but say they will still do their best to arrest the WikiLeaks founder who has been holed up there since June 2012. London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement Monday that Assange is still subject to arrest for failing to answer a rape charge in Sweden. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
A pizza is delivered to the Ecuadorian Embassy after the Metropolitan Police announced that they have strengthened their covert plan at the embassy, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as been staying since 2012, but removed the round-the-clock guards in London, Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. Mr Assange sought asylum at the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden after a rape allegation. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
![In the November issue, GQís Chuck Klosterman interrogates the most popular human alive. The press release and link to the full story and photoshoot on the beach in Malibu is below. Attached please find approved press image and cover. As always to use the inside image you must also show the cover. Photo credit is Michael Thompson exclusively for GQ.
FOR RELEASE: October 15, 2015
TAYLOR SWIFT ON PROTECTING THE SUBJECTS OF HER SONGS,
THE ACCUSATION THAT SHEíS ìCALCULATING,î AND LEANRING TO FIND HAPPINESS
ìThere is such a thing as having enoughÖ after ten years, you learn to appreciate happiness when it happens, and that happiness is rare and fleeting, and that youíre not entitled to it.î
New York, N.Y.¨¨¨óìYouíre in a[n] interview, and the writer says, ëWho is that song about? That sounds like a really intense moment from your life.í And you sit there, and you know youíre on good terms with your ex-boyfriend, and you donít want himóor his familyóto think youíre firing shots at him](http://web.archive.org/web/20151016024526im_/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/10/15/14/2D7102A600000578-0-image-m-24_1444916031123.jpg)
![Link Back: http://www.nylon.com/articles/elle-fanning-november-2015-cover\n\n\nHer relationship with her sister, fellow actress Dakota Fanning: ¿When we were little we would fight all the time. I¿m taller, so I would be the one beating her up¿ [a fact Dakota corroborated in NYLON¿s May cover story].\n \nSusan Sarandon¿s take: ¿Elle is like a gangly, enthusiastic colt, bounding out of rooms, laughing, and full of fun,¿ says Sarandon, who plays Ray¿s grandmother in the upcoming film. ¿Then when it¿s time to be in character, she settles down with super-sharp focus and is fierce. She invested so much in Ray and his quest for authenticity that it grounds the film. I can¿t imagine anyone else in the part.¿\n \nFanning thinks Susan Sarandon is pretty great, too: ¿Susan is like a legend, you know? She¿s so hot!¿\n \nPlaying the transgender title character in About Ray: Part of her preparation for the role included talking with transgender teens. ¿They opened up to me in the most incredible wa](http://web.archive.org/web/20151016024526im_/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/10/15/18/2D727AA200000578-0-image-m-27_1444929445112.jpg)
