LBCI

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange hopes to exit London embassy if UK lets him -spokesman

World News

18-08-2014 | 05:09

Share

Share

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange hopes to exit London embassy if UK lets him -spokesman

2^min

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has spent over two years inside Ecuador's London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, said on Monday he planned to leave the building "soon", but his spokesman said that could only happen if Britain let him.

Britain has repeatedly said it won't back down, that its laws must be followed, and that Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault and rape, which he denies. Assange would be arrested if he exited the building because he has breached his British bail terms.

Assange's comments briefly raised the possibility of him leaving the embassy, somewhere he has been holed up since June 2012. But his spokesman later told reporters that he could only do so if the British government "calls off the siege outside". Assange had no intention of handing himself over to the police, the spokesman said.

The 43-year-old Australian says he fears that if Britain extradited him to Sweden he would then be extradited to the United States where he could be tried for one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history.

"I am leaving the embassy soon ... but perhaps not for the reasons that Murdoch press and Sky news are saying at the moment," Assange told reporters at the embassy in central London, before refusing to clarify his comments.

Britain's Sky News, part owned by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, had earlier reported that Assange was considering leaving the embassy due to deteriorating health.

REUTERS

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

President Aoun seeks continued British support for Lebanon, says Washington talks separate from Switzerland track

2026-06-24

President Aoun seeks continued British support for Lebanon, says Washington talks separate from Switzerland track

Manila says Iran to allow Philippine oil shipments through Strait of Hormuz

Middle East News

2026-04-02

Manila says Iran to allow Philippine oil shipments through Strait of Hormuz

Artemis astronauts travel further into space than any human: NASA livestream

2026-04-06

Artemis astronauts travel further into space than any human: NASA livestream

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

News Bulletin Reports

13:02

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

President Aoun backs extending UNIFIL mandate, stresses need for international presence in south

1

President Aoun backs extending UNIFIL mandate, stresses need for international presence in south

UNIFIL reports surge in military activity in South Lebanon

2

UNIFIL reports surge in military activity in South Lebanon

PM Salam: Lebanon insists on maintaining UN force in South Lebanon

3

PM Salam: Lebanon insists on maintaining UN force in South Lebanon

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

4

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

MP Melhem Khalaf urges extending UNIFIL mandate to prevent vacuum in southern Lebanon

5

MP Melhem Khalaf urges extending UNIFIL mandate to prevent vacuum in southern Lebanon

Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it gets in way of Iran deal: Report

6

Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it gets in way of Iran deal: Report

Israeli official says Netanyahu, Kushner agree US general to supervise Hamas disarming

7

Israeli official says Netanyahu, Kushner agree US general to supervise Hamas disarming

Yemen's Houthis say targeted Saudi military vessel in Red Sea

8

Yemen's Houthis say targeted Saudi military vessel in Red Sea

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More