Foreign Secretary William Hague Raises Julian Assange Case With Ecuador Vice President

Foreign Secretary William Hague has held talks with Ecuador's vice president Lenin Moreno as the deadlock over the status of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange continued.

Ecuador has granted political asylum to Assange, who is holed up in the South American country's London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces sexual offence allegations.

Julian Assange has sought refuge in the Ecuador Embassy in London

A Foreign Office spokesman said the UK and Ecuador would continue attempts to find a "diplomatic solution" to the stand-off.

The Australian activist will be arrested and extradited if he steps outside the building after jumping bail.

But Ecuador claims that Britain has threatened to enter the embassy and detain 41-year-old Assange in a move that would violate diplomatic conventions.

The UK government has warned that it can legally enter the embassy and arrest Mr Assange under the 1987 Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act, but Mr Hague has said there was no intention to "storm" the building.

Mr Hague met Mr Moreno in the Foreign Office as the Ecuadorian vice president visited the UK for the Paralympics and the pair talked about the Games and the rights of those with disabilities.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "They also discussed the situation regarding Mr Julian Assange's presence in the Embassy of Ecuador in London.

"They confirmed the UK and Ecuador's commitment to dialogue to find a diplomatic solution to the matter."