WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to leave Ecuador embassy …

However, Mr Assange and his legal advisers appeared to have made an embarrassing error by misunderstanding a basic aspect of the new legislation.

The Home Office quickly undermined his key claim by confirming the changes would not apply in the case of Mr Assange, who has been a wanted man in Sweden since 2010, because they are not retrospective.

Mr Assange, 43, is alleged to have raped a woman known as SW, then aged 26, and committed other sexual offences against AA, a 31-year-old woman.

The Australian claims that if he is extradited to Sweden, he will be sent on to the United States for questioning over WikiLeaks whistle-blowing, which has been accused of publishing material which damages national security.

Mr Assange, looking pale and haggard, told journalists: "I can confirm I will be leaving the embassy soon."

However, he said his intended departure was perhaps not driven by reports of his ill-health.

There was further confusion when a WikiLeaks spokesman at the press conference quickly disputed that Mr Assange would be leaving the embassy imminently.

Kristinn Hrafnsson said: "The plan, as always, is to leave as soon as the UK Government decides to honour its obligations in relation to international agreements."

Police officers have been stationed outside the embassy round-the-clock since Mr Assange decided to enter the building voluntarily in June 2012.

He faces arrest the moment he steps outside the building in Knightsbridge, behind Harrods department store.

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to leave Ecuador embassy ...