Ecuador slams UK threat to storm embassy and nab Assange

2012-08-16 14

(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)

The diplomatic standoff over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange escalated on Wednesday (August 15) after Britain threatened to raid Ecuador's embassy in London if Quito did not hand over Assange, who has been taking refuge there for two months.

The Ecuadorian government bristled at the threat and said it would announce its decision on Assange's asylum request on Thursday (August 16) at 7 a.m. (1200 GMT).

Quito added that such an action would be considered a "hostile and intolerable act" as well as a violation of its sovereignty.

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