By Melanius Alphonse
Caribbean News Now associate managing editor
[email protected]
LONDON, England – The Ecuadorian embassy in London was the home of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for seven years. That accommodation ended abruptly on Thursday when Assange was arrested by British police and carried out of Ecuador’s embassy in London to face a US extradition request.
Ecuador said it is guided by the principle of law, complies with international law and protects the interest of Ecuadorians. Ecuadorian president, Lenin Moreno said in a video message that Assange had his diplomatic asylum withdrawn due to “repeatedly violating international conventions,” alluding to the US extradition request and the result of “extensive dialogue” between the UK and Ecuador.
“I can confirm that Julian Assange is now in police custody and rightly facing justice in the UK,” British home secretary Sajid Javid said on Twitter. “No one is above the law,” acknowledging Ecuador for its “cooperation” in the long-running case.
Jennifer Robinson, a member of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks’ legal team since 2010 also tweeted, “Just confirmed: #Assange has been arrested not just for breach of bail conditions but also in relation to a US extradition request,” and “from #Assange: The US warrant was issued in December 2017 and is for conspiracy with Chelsea Manning in early 2010.”
At Westminster magistrates’ court on Thursday afternoon, Assange pleaded not guilty but was convicted of failing to surrender to police June 29, 2012. He will be sentenced in Crown court. He faces extradition hearings May 2 and June 12.
