QUITO, Nov 28 (Reuters) – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
is suffering from a chronic lung ailment that could worsen at
any time and is being checked regularly by doctors, the Andean
country’s ambassador to Britain said on Wednesday.
Assange, 41, whose website angered the United States by
releasing thousands of secret diplomatic cables, has been holed
up inside Ecuador’s embassy in London since June to avoid
extradition to Sweden for questioning over rape and sexual
assault allegations. Assange has denied any wrongdoing.
“He has a chronic lung complaint that could get worse any
time. The Ecuadorean state is covering Mr Assange’s medical
costs and we have arranged for regular doctor visits to check on
his health,” Ambassador Ana Alban told a local TV network during
a visit to Quito.
British authorities say Assange will be arrested if he sets
foot outside the embassy. The building, located just behind
London’s famed Harrods department store, is under constant
police surveillance.
Ecuador said last month it is worried about Assange’s health
and asked Britain to guarantee him safe passage to hospital from
the embassy if he needs medical treatment.
That would allow him to return to the embassy after
treatment with refugee status.
Assange is said to be living a cramped life inside the
modest diplomatic mission. He eats mostly take-out food and uses
a treadmill to burn off energy and a vitamin D lamp to make up
for the lack of sunlight.
In late August, the former computer hacker said he expected
to wait six months to a year for a deal that would allow him to
leave the embassy.
