A motion, backing the ‘inviolability of diplomatic missions’ has been passed by the Organisation of American States, amidst the ongoing row over Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s avoidance of facing extradition to Sweden by hiding in Ecuador’s embassy in London.
Ecuador called for the vote saying the UK threatened to storm the embassy to arrest Assange, however the resolution was reworded after the UK insisted it made no such threat.
Although the motion expressed solidarity with Ecuador, strong pleas by Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patino to include the alleged threat fell on deaf ears and it was not mentioned in the final version of the resolution.
The US dropped its initial opposition after the changes were made.
