British Government Considering Talks With Ecuador Regarding Julian Assange

The Wikileaks author is currently staying at the Ecuadorian embassy in London

The UK government is considering a request from Ecuador to hold talks on the future of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the Foreign Office has said.

It confirmed Ecuador's foreign minister Ricardo Patino, who will visit Mr Assange this month, had offered to meet Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Mr Assange has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for a year, having been granted political asylum there.

He faces extradition to Sweden over sex allegations, which he denies.

Once in Sweden, he fears onward extradition to the US where he could face charges over the release of top secret documents by Wikileaks.