Wikileaks founder Julian Assange granted asylum by Ecuador

Julian Assange has been granted asylum by Ecuador, two months after he took refuge in the country's London embassy while fighting extradition from the UK.

Explaining the decision, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said neither the UK, Sweden or the US could guarantee that the Wikileaks founder would not face further prosecution in America about releasing secret documents through his website.

Mr Patino told a news conference in the Equadorean capital Quito: "We believe that his fears are legitimate and there are the threats that he could face political persecution".

Mr Assange took refuge at the embassy in June to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning over assault and rape claims, which he denies.