BBC Online :
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has suggested he will be leaving London’s Ecuadorean embassy soon after two years’ refuge.
He gave no more details but said he understood Wikileaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson had “said that he can confirm I am leaving the embassy soon”.
Mr Hrafnsson later said Mr Assange would only be able to leave when the UK government “calls off the siege”.
Assange is wanted for questioning over alleged sexual assaults in Sweden.
Speaking after the press conference, Mr Hrafnsson said: “The plan is for him to leave as soon as the UK government decides to honour its obligations in relation to international agreements and calls off the siege outside – it’s as simple as that.”
Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patino said would continue to be offered “protection”.
‘Bound to fail’ Mr Assange, 43, faces questioning by prosecutors in Sweden over claims made by two women. He denies the allegations and sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in June 2012 shortly after a court ordered his extradition.
He says he fears he could eventually be handed over to the US because Wikileaks published classified US military documents on the Afghan and Iraq wars.
He has been living inside the embassy building since then, having been granted diplomatic asylum by Ecuador in August 2012.
Reports in UK newspapers at the weekend hade said Mr Assange had developed a heart defect and a chronic lung condition during his confinement.
Sitting next to Mr Patino at a news conference, Mr Assange said his health had suffered during his time inside the embassy. The Australian said the reasons for him leaving were not those “reported by the Murdoch press” – but did not elaborate further.
