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SECURITY DETAIL: Metropolitan Police officers stand guard outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where fugitive Julian Assange is holed up. The security has reportedly cost NZ$20million. <\/p>\n
The cost of policing the embassy in London where Julian Assange has been holed up since mid-2012 has now topped 10 million ($NZ20.7 million). <\/p>\n
A London radio station has crunched the numbers after a freedom of information request revealed the Metropolitan Police had spent 9 million ($NZ18.6 million) guarding the diplomatic mission to the end of October 2014. <\/p>\n
That's 10,500 ($NZ21,750) per day and, given Assange has been inside the embassy for 960 days since June 19, 2012, the total figure to date is now just over 10 million. <\/p>\n
A frustrated British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Thursday (Friday NZT) insisted the Australian should leave the embassy and \"face justice\". <\/p>\n
The WikiLeaks founder is avoiding extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault. <\/p>\n
Assange fears if he's extradited he could subsequently be sent to the United States and charged over the website's release of classified documents. <\/p>\n
Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office says the government remains committed to reaching a \"diplomatic solution\". <\/p>\n
\"We are clear that our laws must be followed and Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden,\" a spokeswoman said in a statement on Thursday. <\/p>\n
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