Britain making 'formal protest' to Ecuador over Assange case

Two of the four allegations against the WikiLeaks founder have expired because of the statute of limitations

LONDON:

Britain is to make a "formal protest" to Ecuador over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a minister said Thursday, as two of the four allegations against him expired because of the statute of limitations.

The Foreign Office in London said its ambassador in Quito would make the protest Thursday, calling Assange's residence at Ecuador's embassy in London an "abuse of diplomatic relations".

"Now that the statute of limitations has expired on certain offences, I am obliged to drop part of the investigation," prosecutor Marianne Ny said.

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But she said she still wanted to question the 44-year-old over the more serious claim of rape.

The accusations dropped involve one count of sexual assault and another of unlawful coercion. A separate allegation of sexual molestation will run out on August 18.

The Australian can still however be prosecuted for rape, which carries a 10-year statute of limitations that expires in 2020.

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Assange has always denied the allegations brought by two Swedish women, and insists the sexual encounters were consensual.

"I am extremely disappointed. There was no need for any of this. I am an innocent man," Assange said in a statement after the prosecutor's decision.