[NEWS.XINHUANET] Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said Friday that his government would offer asylum to Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange for as long as the whistleblower wants."If he wishes to give up asylum and hand himself over, that is his decision. But if he wants to remain under protection, the Ecuadorian state will continue (offering it)," Correa told the press during a trip to the coastal province of Esmeraldas.
Correa spoke out after Assange said Thursday that he would accept to be extradited to the United States if his rights are protected.
The former hacker and journalist has been living at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted in connection with the sexual assault of two women.