WikiLeaks Assange Is Poised To Accept Arrest If UN Appeal Fails

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder, stated that he could surrender to the British police on Friday after over three years of seeking asylum in the embassy of Ecuador in London.

The founder and operator of the website that exposes secret deals and activities of governments around the world said that if his UN appeal falls through, he will finally turn himself over to the British authorities.

On the other hand, Assange also said that if his UN panel appeal is successful, he expects to be allowed to go out of the embassy as a free man.

"Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal," Assange stated in a statement issued Thursday.

"However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me," he added.

A recent update on this event was released stating that the UN panel has allegedly ruled that Julian Assange has been detained arbitrarily.

This working group is tasked with the investigation of arbitrary detentions. It is set to announce the results of their examinations regarding Assange's case on Friday, but the BBC seems to have reported that the panel has ruled in his (Assange's) favor.

There were sexual assault claims against Julian Assange in Sweden and he is wanted for questioning. This has led him to seek asylum in the embassy of Ecuador in London starting in 2012.

But the British government and the Swiss government can choose to ignore the UN panel ruling and should Julian Assange fulfill his promise to leave the embassy, he can be arrested by police authorities.

"The warrant is still in place. If he leaves the embassy we will make every effort to arrest him," a British police spokesman said.

Real Time Analytics