Well the threats to Ecuador certainly worked, they've granted Julian Assange asylum.

If only all rape suspects were pursued with the same vigour.



Also interesting to see the comparisons between this deportation and that of General Pinochet.

edit:

They are aren’t they? especially when the victims argue they haven’t been raped.



The fact the US is a bit annoyed at him is completely co-incidental.

Hopefully it means he'll have to go and live in Ecuador, and will keep him out of the news

Why don't they just assassinate him? It would be cheaper.

Unless he's going to live in the embassy forever can he actually get out of the country?

Well apparently not. Ecuadorian foreign minister said he asked Sweden for assurances about onward removal to the US and none were forthcoming. So it's difficult to see what other decision Ecuador could make.

Digging a tunnel under the embassy.

Do you mean he's wandering around the Ecuadorian embassy dispersing little bits of rubble from his trousers?

Will someone at the airport catch him out by saying "good luck" to him in Spanish?

Also difficult for Sweden to make any such assurances given that a valid extradition request would be decided by their judiciary and not their government.

Fair point

Depends how far we're prepared to push it TBH. If they put him in a diplomatic car and drive him to an airport there's nothing to prevent the police from stopping the car an arresting him. Would cause a major diplomatic incident though.