The Star Online <http://thestar.com.my/> > Saturday August 25, 2012
*OAS backs Ecuador, urges dialogue over Assange* WASHINGTON: The Organization of American States declared "solidarity and support" Friday for Ecuador in its dispute with Britain over granting asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The meeting of the Americas bloc was convened at Ecuador's request to consider a resolution rejecting any attempt to put at risk the "inviolability" of its embassy in London, where Assange is holed up. In the resolution, foreign ministers and representatives of the 34-member regional body rejected "any attempt that might put at risk the inviolability of the premises of diplomatic missions." The text, adopted by consensus after five hours of arduous negotiations in Washington, also expressed "solidarity and support for the government of the Republic of Ecuador." It urged Ecuador and Britain to "continue to engage in dialogue in order to settle their current differences in accordance with international law, taking into account the statements made recently by authorities of both governments." Reservations about the resolution were expressed in footnotes by United States and Canada, OAS members who are also firm British allies. The diplomatic confrontation over Assange, who has been staying at the Ecuadoran mission since June 19, reached a new pitch last week after Quito announced it was granting the 41-year-old Australian activist asylum. Assange took refuge there to escape extradition to Sweden, where he is sought for questioning about sex assault allegations. He claims that if extradited to Sweden, he would be handed over to the United States, where he fears prosecution over WikiLeaks' release of a vast cache of confidential US government files. Ecuador is demanding a "public apology" from Britain for allegedly threatening to enter the Ecuadoran embassy in London to arrest Assange. During the OAS debate, Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino condemned Britain for what he called the "assault on our sovereignty." Britain's permanent observer to the OAS, Philip Barton, stressed, however, that London had never threatened to enter the Ecuadoran embassy. "At no time did the UK make any threat against the embassy of Ecuador," he said, calling for a resumption of dialogue. "We invite the government of Ecuador to resume as early as possible the constructive discussion we've held on this matter to date." Despite the British claim, Patino said his government was still waiting for an apology. "Ecuador celebrates the change of attitude of the United Kingdom," he said, though adding: "the threat has already been made and continues in effect because it has not been withdrawn." While Britain has said it will not go into the embassy to arrest Assange, it has refused to grant the Australian national safe conduct out of the country. - AFP Julian Assange arrest plan revealed accidentally Picture shows officer holding document with instructions to arrest WikiLeaks founder whether he leaves in diplomatic car or bag - Share <http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=180444840287&link=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/aug/24/julian-assange-ecuador-embassy-police-arrest-plan&display=popup&redirect_uri=http://static-serve.appspot.com/static/facebook-share/callback.html&show_error=false> ****30 - - - Email <?subject=From the Guardian: Julian Assange arrest plan revealed accidentally&body=I thought you might be interested in this link from the Guardian: Julian Assange arrest plan revealed accidentally - http://gu.com/p/3axmz/em> - Damien Pearse <http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/damien-pearse> - guardian.co.uk <http://www.guardian.co.uk/>, Friday 24 August 2012 18.46 EDT [image: Julian Assange] A police officer holding a document apparently saying Julian Assange is to be arrested in any circumstances if he comes out of the Ecuadorean embassy. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA Plans to seize Julian Assange<http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/julian-assange>"under all circumstances" the moment he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London have accidentally been revealed by a police<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/police>officer displaying restricted documents outside the embassy. The document, pictured under the officer's arm by a Press Association photographer, appears to advocate arresting the WikiLeaks<http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/wikileaks>founder whether he leaves the building in a diplomatic bag or in a diplomatic car. The handwritten plan was recorded at a police briefing and only partially covered by the officer's arm as he arrived at the embassy in Knightsbridge on Friday. The brief begins: "BRIEF EQ. Embassy brief Summary of current position Re Assange. Action required Assange to be arrested under all circumstances." It then makes reference to a "dip bag" and a "dip vehicle". A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The document is one officer's notes from a briefing. Our objective is to arrest Julian Assange for breach of bail. Under no circumstances would any arrest be made which was in breach of diplomatic immunity." Assange, who has been in the building for two months, is wanted for questioning in Sweden over claims of sexual assault. He is refusing to travel to Scandinavia amid fears he will be extradited to the United States over his controversial website. Ecuador<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/ecuador>granted the Australian political asylum last week. The UK government has made it clear Assange, who denies the allegations, will be arrested if he steps outside the embassy after jumping bail. Speculation has been rife about possible escape routes, and Assange's legal team and the Ecuadorean government have talked about the possibility of safe passage to Ecuador. Ambassadors from several South American countries went to the embassy on Friday to show their solidarity with Ecuador. The British government has threatened, under a 1987 Act, to enter the embassy and arrest the 41-year-old, but foreign secretary William Hague has said there is no intention to "storm" the building. Ecuador's president has said the diplomatic row "could be ended tomorrow" if Britain gave the activist safe passage to South America [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:laamn-dig...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:laamn-ow...@egroups.com?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/laamn@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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