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Ecuador could kick Julian Assange out of London embassy as foreign minister says situation 'not sustainable'

Ecuador is considering kicking Julian Assange out of its embassy in London.

The South American country is looking for a third country to mediate in the case of WikiLeaks founder Mr Assange, who has sought refuge in Knightsbridge for more than five years.

Foreign minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa told media on Tuesday that notable asylum cases in recent years have sometimes required mediation by a third party.

She called the current situation “not sustainable”.

Mr Assange has been at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden to face accusations of alleged rape.

While Sweden has temporarily dropped that investigation, British officials say they would still arrest him on charges of bail jumping.

Mr Assange also fears a possible US extradition request stemming from the leaking of classified US documents.

Ecuador’s Ms Espinosa said: “No solution will be achieved without international cooperation and the cooperation of the United Kingdom, which has also shown interest in seeking a way out.”

Last year, Ecuador’s president Lenin Moreno warned Australian-born Mr Assange, 46, against making controversial political statements after he spoke out in support of the pro-independence movement in Catalonia.