Julian Assange plans to leave Ecuadorian embassy a free man after changes to UK laws

The WikiLeaks publisher flummoxed the international media on Monday by telling reporters in London that he will “soon” be leaving his refuge in Ecuador’s London embassy, but not elaborating on how long “soon” might be or the circumstances in which he will end his diplomatic asylum.

“I can confirm I am leaving the Ecuadorian embassy soon,” Mr Assange said at a joint press conference with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino.

Mr Assange’s remarks were preceded by a flood of speculation by international media and on Twitter that health problems were about to force him to surrender to British police.

Mr Assange acknowledged that his health had “deteriorated” during two years of confinement in Ecuador's embassy, but said that his eventual departure would be “not for the reason you might think” - an apparent reference to media reports that he has developed a significant heart ailment.

In a subsequent interview with Fairfax Media, however, Mr Assange clarified his remarks by referring to what he described as “a range of important legal developments in the United Kingdom,” especially the British government’s decision to opt out of the European Arrest Warrant system under which Sweden sought his extradition to be questioned about sexual assault and rape allegations first raised in August 2010.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/julian-assange-plans-to-leave-ecuadorian-embassy-a-free-man-after-changes-to-uk-laws-20140818-105kqu.html