The surprise offer by Swedish prosecutors to question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at Ecuador's London embassy over rape allegations last week offers a clear breakthrough in the deadlocked case, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino has said.<\/p>\n
Julian Assange took refuge in the London embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden and has been there ever since. <\/p>\n
Up to now, Swedish prosecutors have refused to go to London to question the43-year-old Australian former hacker over the allegations. <\/p>\n
But the prosecutor in charge of the case, Marianne Ny, said last week shewas dropping her opposition as some of the alleged offences will reach theirstatute of limitations in August. <\/p>\n
\"This allows us to see a light at the end of the tunnel,\" Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told reporters in Washington. <\/p>\n
\"That light is still not close, but this is the first time there is a movement in the Swedish judicial system suggesting that it may proceed with an interview.\" <\/p>\n
The top Ecuadoran diplomat said he welcomed the Swedish move, but regretted it had not taken place earlier. <\/p>\n
Last week Assange's lawyer Per Samuelsson told The Local that the Wikileaks founder viewed the development as a great victory. <\/p>\n
\"But simultaneously he was irritated that it took so long for the prosecutor to do her job properly...there is a mixture of feelings,\" he added. <\/p>\n
When she [the chief prosecutor] hears his version of events, we are convinced she will believe he is innocent and will drop all her suspicions, he concluded. <\/p>\n
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