UK 'threatens' to raid Ecuador embassy over Assange

[struggle4progress]

166. ... As we have previously set out, we must meet our legal obligations

under the Framework Decision and the Extradition Act 2003, to arrest Mr. Assange and extradite him to Sweden. We remain committed to working with you amicably to resolve this matter. But we must be absolutely clear this means that should we receive a request for safe passage for Mr. Assange, after granting asylum, this would be refused, in line with our legal obligations.

In that light, and given the statements of the last 24 hours, we hope that you are prepared to continue to engage with the ongoing diplomatic discussions. We continue to believe that a solution is possible on the basis of a jointly agreed text, which would accompany Mr. Assange exiting the Embassy, and leading to his extradition.

We have a further meeting scheduled for Thursday 16th August. Given the statements made in Quito overnight, about an imminent decision, should we take it this meeting will be the final one to agree a joint text?

We have to reiterate that we consider continued use of diplomatic premises in this way, to be incompatible with the VCDR (Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations) and not sustainable, and that we have already made clear to you the serious implications for our diplomatic relations ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/in-letter-britain-warns-it-can-arrest-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-at-ecuadors-embassy/2012/08/16/ac56ef70-e790-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html

So Ecuador was already engaged in a quiet process with the UK to work out a jointly agreeable basis for Assange to leave the embassy, with another meeting scheduled for tomorrow, when rumors began to fly that Ecuador simply intended to grant Assange indefinite shelter in the embassy, entirely contrary to the UK's understanding of the discussions it and Ecuador were having, at which point the UK appropriately pointed out to Ecuador that such a move could have substantial diplomatic consequences