Assange: Ecuador, Venezuela front up to Britain

Ecuador has said it is open to dialogue with Great Britain over the fate of Julian Assange, but has warned London not to raid its embassy.

Ecuador has said it is open to dialogue with Great Britain over the fate of Julian Assange, but has warned London not to raid its embassy there lest a dangerous diplomatic precedent be set.

Speaking on state television, President Rafael Correa said it would be 'suicide' for Britain to force its way in order to extradite the WikiLeaks founder to Sweden to face questioning over sexual assault claims, as it would leave British embassies around the world open to the same fate.

'I think it would be suicide for the United Kingdom to enter the Ecuadorian embassy. It would set a precedent that would allow uk diplomatic premises in other territories to be violated later on', President Correa said.

Adding to the growing rift between Britain and leftist Latin American nations, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned it to stop acting in its old imperial ways by telling smaller nations like Ecuador what to do.

'I suggest to the United Kingdom to think about it closely, because the old empires are finished, as well as the new ones that did with us what they wanted to - now Ecuador is not alone.'

The US says Mr Assange and his supporters are not focusing on the real issue - the case in Sweden against him, while Sweden has denied ever receiving an extradition request from the US.