Swedish move to question Assange welcomed by Ecuador

[MikeWB]

The Ecuadorian government has welcomed moves by Swedish officials to interview Julian Assange inside its embassy.

Mr Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador and has been living inside its embassy in London for more than four years, despite being wanted over a sex allegation.

But the WikiLeaks founder believes that if he leaves the embassy he will be extradited to the US and questioned over the activities of his controversial website.

Representatives from the Swedish prosecutor's office and Swedish police officers will be present while Mr Assange is questioned by an Ecuadorian official today.

If Mr Assange gives his consent, a DNA sample will also be taken from him.

Ecuador's foreign minister Guillaume Long told the Press Association that he was "pleased" with the development.

He added: "This is something that Ecuador has been inviting the Swedish prosecutors to do ever since we granted asylum to Mr Assange in 2012."

Mr Long said Ecuador had "never sought to stand in the way of any legal process in Sweden".

He added: "What we have asked from Sweden and the UK are guarantees that Mr Assange will not be extradited to a third country where he could be persecuted for his work as a journalist."

Marianne Ny, director of prosecution in Sweden, would not comment on the investigation as it "is subject to confidentiality".

But she did say: "I welcome the fact that the investigation can now move forward via an interview with the suspect."

Mr Assange denies the sex allegation against him.