Ecuador’s government is calling for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) tonight after the British Foreign Office threatened to invade the Ecuadorean embassy in London in an effort to capture Julian Assange.
Assange is currently in the embassy pending an asylum decision by the Ecuador government, which is expected Thursday. The Ecuadorean government has confirmed receiving a letter sent by the British Embassy in Quito threatening to attack the embassy.
Attacking an embassy is almost unheard of in the Western world and a violation of the Vienna Convention, but British law grants the government the ability to attack embassies whenever it considers it in the national interest.
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino slammed the threat, saying that “we want to be very clear, we’re not a British colony,” and adding that they would consider an attack on their embassy to be an “unfriendly, hostile and intolerable act.”
Declare war against the Anglo-Saxon scumbags.
After the fuss the British government made about an invasion of the British Embassy in Tehran, they can hardly do the same to the Ecuadoran Embassy. But if true, it does suggest that Assange's claims about some plan to extradite him to the USA are correct.
indeed. Amazing the craziness that can go on in the name of "national security" or "national interests". Seems that the US is behind this too. It wants Assange so bad it is salivating. It would be foolish of the Brits to do this as the risk of US getting at Assange is high indeed. One must also remember that US is now a country that tortures. They have made Manning's life absolute hell . Making an example of him. The US is also a nation that assassinates its foes. __
Damn straight. Isn't it amazing that for all the talk of "terror" the UK babbles about coming from others it's in fact THEY who engage in it. Pot calling kettle black as usual.
Cameron must love the smell of Obama's hinder as much as Blair loved Bush's.
Every policies regarding international politic of some sort comes to have something to do with US or its allies, if some talks about the truth of how brutal the US militarism regime is, proving it by the way of a film or the evidence in magical terms, that person needs to be shoot, or an embassy needs to be blown out. No matter what, a military respond is the answer. This is simply indicating that US nor England have any respect for the world nor the laws that they themselves ratified, this is simply braking the law calling others that it is them causing us to act as US or EU do. This is simply an act of Neo fascism telling the world that is our way or you are going to be shoot one way or there other, by us or our anglo saxsonian friends.
Anything to please their colonial masters I guess. Do you suppose Washington is leaning on the Brits pretty hard?
It is very clear that Britain is simply following the commands of its master the USA. It is nothing but a lap dog and will do as it is told.
Never believe the USA's admission that it has no interest in extraditing Assange yet it has theatened
Ecuador with sanctions,witholding of funds as well as trade restrictions.
Now is the time for the world to stand up to these two terrorist nations(USA and Britain) and say enough is enough.
I don't know why a few hundred thousand people in Britain don't show up as protesters, completely
overwhelm the British authorities and smuggle Assange out during the demonstrations.
If he is captured by the British and sent to Sweden, both who are in league with the USA, Assange will be on the next flight to a dark hole somewhere in the world controlled the USA.
He has shown what liars and terrorists those countries are and they want payback.
If the world allows this to happen, we are doomed.
Stand up now and be heard….
You saw what happend to Yugoslavia , just becuase they did not want to join anything . Now they do . Yes if I want to know something I always see what Wilki leaks has to say . He should fall under free speach protection . National security is more at risk if we prosecut Assange . The most transparent administration should not be worried by Wiki leaks so much as to break international law .
We should liston to what China just told us about intentionally bombing their embassey in Yugoslavia . CHINA said " they have not forgiven or forgotten the attack against their embassey "
Just recently an American WHO WASNT on the diplomatic officers list in Pakistan was arrested for Murdering Pakistan Nationals in Pakistan and the US gave him retro-active diplomatic immunity, the US kicked up a big stink, about the sanctity of the Vienna conventions, Britain, didnt even try that stunt when a Libyan Embassy staffer MURDERED a police woman by shooting her from inside the Embassy, It didnt arrest him on the way to the Airport, and yet we have the threatening to invade an Embassy!
This is unprecedented, and just shows how babdly the Americans want Assange, in that they have pressured Britain in such a way that they are willing to set a precedent that would allow foreign countries to in future ignore the Vienna conventions and do as they damn well please.
Of course why should we think otherwise when Britain breaches the Geneva Conventions in a wholesale manner for US Expediency, why wouldnt they just ignore every International treaty on the books, they do have the veto in the UN Security council!
Gee, the UK sure is awfully concerned about Sweden's ability to ask a guy some questions about possibly inappropriate sexual behavior. Such concern for justice and due process! I can hardly wait until they threaten to go after George Bush and Tony Blair.
Their treatment of Assange in this matter has consistently been so over the top that it's difficult to believe anyone could believe that there weren't (barely) hidden motives by such extreme actions as those threatened in this article.
But maybe they believe all their subjects are . . .
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Since when was a possible sex crime 'in the national interest'. what a total load of BS.
I've asked myself just what is taking so long for the Ecudoran government to finally do what we know they want to do with Assange's aslym application, which is to approve it. Obviously, the issue is just how to get him out of the Embassy and onto a plane out of the U.K. Looks like Wikileaks supporters in the U.K. are going to have to do a million person strong march to free Assange.
A big box with diplomatic seals on it and some air holes drilled in the top.
I can assure you this is what the British regime – whoops, sorry, government, intend to do and made such a threat.
This is because WilliamHague, the foreign secretary assured aaAmericanpolicy makers before coming to power he would totlally follow US> foreign policy.
It is crystal clear that this is NOT about some sexual escapades between consenting adults and never has been from the beginning – the possibility that it was a setup is not beyond credulity…Sweden should be ashamed for their role in this charade – but that is another issue for another time.
The lengths the UK (and the US) has gone to get Assange defies logic. Just the damage to the Rule of Law and the UK/US ability to stand before the rest of the world and demand other countries respect the International laws required for a civil worldwide society to exist. It's time the rest of the world calls the US and it's policies of "Our way or the Highway" – "Do as we say, not as we do" for the terrorism it is. If the US and it's poodles expect the rest of the world to adhere to accepted International Law then they should set an example and do so themselves.
trouble is the rest of the world might be the United Nations and what kind of repect to you have for their rules . maybe even more lawless but surely not a good enough improvement . If we can't keep our little democratic government in line what chance do we have with influencing the rest of the world
I passed the embassy last night and the police have covered all the exit and access points.. so not sure how Assange is gonna make his getaway.
Storming an embassy over a broken condom???
EASY ANSWER………… Equador should immediately put a cordon-sanitaire around the British Embassy in Quito….to prevent the staff leaving …. Then if the Brits take their embassy….. well then take their embassy and hold the staff until Assange is brought to them for exchange…. Then Cameron becomes Jimmy Carter and the days start to tick off one by one like a water torture………… This desperate NEOCON reaction… to the WIKI leaked cables and their revelations that the U.S. diplomat Jeffry Felton was responsible for conspiring with the President of Lebanon through it's defense minister Mir to invade Lebanon in an attempt to liquidate Hesbolah……. These sensational accusations of the president and defense minister of Lebanon plotting with Israeli through ambassador Jeffrey Felton to wage war on THEIR OWN country surfaced in news…. But alas all such reports of the leaked cables implicating Felton have disappeared from Google searches…. Go figure…!!
"Another series from Beirut in 2008 shows Lebanese Defense Minister Elias al-Murr telling U.S. diplomats, in a message he implied they should pass on to Israeli officials, that the Lebanese military would not resist an Israeli invasion so long as the Israeli forces abided by certain conditions. Murr, apparently hoping that an Israeli invasion would destroy much of the Hezbollah insurgency and the communities in Lebanon’s south that support it, promised an Israeli invasion would go unchallenged as long as it did not pass certain physical boundaries and did not bomb Christian communities. A U.S. embassy official wrote, “Murr is trying to ascertain how long an offensive would be required to clean out Hizballah in the Beka’a.” Murr added that he had discussed the plan with then-Military Commandant Michel Sleiman, who has since become the President of Lebanon. The small but vibrant community of Middle East-based, English-language Arab bloggers have expressed outrage at Murr and Sleiman’s apparent invitation, predicting it will bring political disaster and possibly worse. " http://www.yalibnan.com/2010/12/03/al-akhbar-news….
As for the information…. It didn't come from Wikileaks, but from Al Akbar….THAT….. "the current president of Lebanon Suleman and his defense chief….Murr ……….conspired with Israel through the U.S. Ambassador… Jeffrey Felton for Israel to attack Lebanon (actually Hedbolah) in a way approved by Murr….and if they did…… the Lebanese army would "stay in the barraks"…..
IS it DISINFORMATION…??? If it had been, one would think……. that the PRIME suspect Murr would immediately cry FOUL….and deny that the cable was real….. BUT …. What does Murr say.??
"BEIRUT: Defense Minister Elias Murr called Thursday for the trial of anyone who labeled him a traitor after he was implicated in WikiLeaks revelations.
“Who will try those who are accusing other Lebanese of treason only because they hold a different opinion?” Murr asked in a statement, in reference to some MPs and media outlets who had accused him of treason.
A diplomatic cable obtained by whistle blowing website WikiLeaks alleges Murr advised US officials how to ensure a fresh Israeli onslaught on Lebanon would weaken Hizbullah while protecting the Lebanese Army and civilian Christian areas.
He vowed not to attend a Cabinet meeting until action was taken against those who leveled accusations of treachery at him. “I refuse to attend any Cabinet session that will not address the issue of trying the ones who are continually threatening violence and civil strife,” Murr said.
“This issue must be added to the [Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)] ‘false witnesses’ issue.”
The Cabinet has not met for a month as the debate continues over STL “false witnesses,” which opposition lawmakers want to see stand trial before the Judicial Council. March 14 figures would prefer trial by regular judiciary.
Murr joined US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman in commenting on the fallout from leaked cables concerning Lebanon.
Feltman, who was Lebanon’s US Ambassador between January 2004 and July 2008 and has been mentioned in dozens of intercepted cables, said that the documents were being used to harm US interests in Lebanon.
“WikiLeaks cables are being used to achieve political gains in Lebanon and to harm US-Lebanon relations,” Feltman told reporters in a telephone conference call.
“I am truly worried by the dangers that will hang on those Lebanese nationalists who were working in the interest of their state and are now being threatened because they tried to establish strong relations between our countries,” he said. " http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/Dec/10/…
Do you not find it strange that neither Murr or Felton DENY the the content of the cables…..??
Here is what Felton has to say about the revelations of his complicity with Murr…..Oh no, It.s not TREASON….. but…. "Lebanese nationalists who were working in the interest of their state and are now being threatened because they tried to establish strong relations between our countries….
Nothing unusual…??? Right…. Just NORMAL U.S. diplomacy [arranging yet another war] this time werking out the details of an I$reali assault on Lebanon that killed more than IOOO Lenanese citizens……and did double digit BILLIONS in damage to Lebanese infrastructure……..and left behind MILLIONS of Made in Massachusetts cluster bomblets to kill the CHILDREN for generations and generations
This proves Assange is correct.
The "sex without a condom" charge is meant to disguise the more sinister political motives.
The UK would never threaten to storm a foreign embassy otherwise.
Sigh. The Brits know they're more intelligent than Americans in general, and our political leadership in toto. So, they know they can manipulate our enormous power to their purposes so long as they remain the most loyal puppy in the litter….to all appearances.
Well…they just proved the point they were trying to deny, weren't they? The imperialists on both sides of the pond have gone mad, mad, mad.
England is going to attack with guns the Ecuador Embassy, just so that Sweden can ask Assange why he had unprotected sex?
Actually no, for two women were hired by the CIA to seduce Assange so that WikiLeaks could be closed down and Assange placed in solitary confinement for life.
…and something he could answer for them (and has volunteered) via video conferencing, which they've rejected. The Brits didn't have any problem giving the butcher Pinochet political asylum, but we're supposed to believe that they want to burn down the international embassy system over a sex crime!?
I don't think mobs of British police, SWAT teams and traffic checkpoints are going to go over very well at that location. If you study the photo Jason put up of Ecuador's embassy, the building to the right of it with the green awnings at street level is the famous Harrod's dept store. I am sure they will just love the interruption of their daily business.
I think surrounding the English , Sweedish and american ebasseys might be aproperate in this instance for equador. The world need Wilki leaks more than those embassies . let the people vote on it we are democracies
What would Eisenhower have done in 1956 if the Hungarian police had stormed the U.S. embassy in Budapest to arrest József Cardinal Mindszenty?