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Hidden microphone found at Ecuador's embassy in UK, says foreign minister Hidden microphone found at Ecuador's embassy in UK, says foreign minister
(35 minutes later)
Ecuador has found a hidden microphone inside its London embassy where the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is living, and will disclose on Wednesday who controls the device, its foreign minister said. A hidden microphone has been found inside the Ecuadorean embassy in London where the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is holed up, according to the country's foreign minister.
Ricardo Patino said the microphone was found inside the office of the Ecuadorean ambassador to the UK, Ana Alban, at the time of a visit to the embassy by Patino to meet Assange on 16 June. Assange lives and works in a different room within the embassy. Ricardo Patiño said the device had been discovered a fortnight ago inside the office of the Ecuadorean ambassador, Ana Alban, while he was in the UK to meet Assange and discuss the whistleblower's plight with the British foreign secretary, William Hague.
The Foreign Office in London declined to comment immediately on the allegation and David Cameron's spokesman said he did not comment on security issues. "We regret to inform you that in our embassy in London we have found a hidden microphone," Patiño told a news conference in Quito on Tuesday.
"I didn't report this at the time because we didn't want the theme of our visit to London to be confused with this matter," he said.
"Furthermore, we first wanted to ascertain with precision what could be the origin of this interception device in the office of our ambassador."
He described the discovery of the device as "another instance of a loss of ethics at the international level in relations between governments" and said he would reveal more details as to who might have planted the microphone on Wednesday.
The Foreign Office declined to comment immediately on the allegation, while a No 10 spokesman said he did not comment on security issues.
Assange has been living inside the embassy for more than a year to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations by two women of sexual assault and rape, which he denies.Assange has been living inside the embassy for more than a year to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations by two women of sexual assault and rape, which he denies.
He fears that if sent to Sweden he could be extradited from there to the US to face potential charges over the release of thousands of confidential US documents by WikiLeaks. He fears that if sent to Sweden he could be extradited from there to the US to face potential charges over the release of thousands of confidential US documents on WikiLeaks.
"We regret to inform you that in our embassy in London we have found a hidden microphone," Patino told a news conference in Quito on Tuesday. Footage of his appearance is available on the website of the Ecuadorean foreign ministry. Ecuador's protection of Assange has strained relations with Britain.
"I didn't denounce this at the time because we didn't want the theme of our visit to London to be confused with this matter," he said. "Furthermore, we first wanted to ascertain with precision what could be the origin of this interception device in the office of our ambassador. After talking to Assange until four in the morning on 17 June, Patiño met Hague for fruitless negotiations on the affair.
"We are sorry to say so, but this is another instance of a loss of ethics at the international level in relations between governments," he added. The Foreign Office said "no substantive progress" had been made during the discussions, while Patiño told a press conference that Assange's situation was "totally unjust".
Ecuador's protection of Assange has strained relations with Britain. Patino met the foreign secretary, William Hague, during his time in London, and the Foreign Office said after the meeting that no substantive progress had been made to break the legal and diplomatic deadlock. Patiño also said his government and Assange himself were prepared for a long waiting game, with the WikiLeaks founder telling him he was fit enough to spend another five years inside the Knightsbridge embassy.
WikiLeaks said on Twitter: "Sieging/bugging of Ecuador's London embassy and the blockading of Morales jet shows that imperial arrogance is the gift that keeps on giving."
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