Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Source: AAP <\/p>\n
The cost of policing the embassy in London where Julian Assange has been holed up since mid-2012 has now topped $A20 million. <\/p>\n
A London radio station has crunched the numbers after a freedom of information request revealed the Metropolitan Police had spent $A18 million guarding the Ecuadorean diplomatic mission to the end of October 2014. <\/p>\n
That's $A21,000 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 $20 million. <\/p>\n
A frustrated British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Thursday 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
\"As ever we look to Ecuador to help bring this difficult, and costly, situation to an end.\" <\/p>\n
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