Ecuador ruling on Wikileaks' Assange due 'on Thursday'

Ecuador's government has said it will make a decision on the fate of the Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, within 24 hours.

Mr Assange is at the country's embassy in London, where he is seeking asylum to prevent him being sent to Sweden to answer accusations of assault.

Police say he faces arrest for breaching his bail conditions.

Ecuador's deputy foreign minister Marco Albuja said the country's president would reveal his ruling on Thursday.

"The national government is considering its position and the president will give us his instructions tomorrow," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr Assange, 40, whose conditions included staying at his bail address between 22:00 and 08:00 BST, is spending his second night at the embassy.

Last week he failed to reopen an appeal against his extradition to Sweden.

Mr Assange, wanted for questioning in Sweden over rape and sexual assault allegations, denies any wrongdoing.

His website has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and international businesses.

Mr Assange fears if he is sent to Sweden it could lead to him being sent to the US to face charges over Wikileaks, for which he could face the death penalty.

Two female ex-Wikileaks volunteers alleged in 2010 that Mr Assange had attacked them while he was in Stockholm to give a lecture. No charges have been filed.

Mr Assange claims the sex was consensual and that the allegations are politically-motivated.

Last Thursday, seven judges at the UK's Supreme Court dismissed Mr Assange's attempt to reopen his extradition appeal as being "without merit".

The Australian has until 28 June to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. His lawyer, Dinah Rose QC, said he was considering whether to do this.

Swedish authorities have said the ECHR would intervene if Mr Assange was to face the prospect of "inhuman or degrading treatment or an unfair trial" in the US.

As part of Mr Assange's bail conditions, securities totalling £200,000 were lodged at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

A further £40,000 put up as sureties are thought to have been provided by socialite Jemima Khan and film director Ken Loach, who each offered £20,000.

Lawyers say bail would only be forfeited if Mr Assange failed to turn up for a scheduled court appearance.

On Wednesday, Ecuador - whose President Rafael Correa has previously clashed with Washington and is a fan of Wikileaks - said it would consult the UK, Sweden and the US before deciding on Mr Assange's asylum request.

UK government representatives met the Ecuadorian Ambassador Anna Alban at the Foreign Office on Wednesday for talks Ms Alban described as "cordial and constructive".