WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. (Reuters) <\/p>\n
The whiff of controversy has long surrounded WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, but, according to a new report, he just reeks.<\/p>\n
Assange's lack of cleanliness was reportedly one of the reasons behind Ecuador's recent attempts to extricate him from his five-year standoff in its embassy in London, the International Business Times reported.<\/p>\n
It seems he doesnt wash properly, a highly placed source told the news outlet. The issue prompted repeated complaints from staff at the UK embassy, according to the report.<\/p>\n
The WikiLeaks founder has been holed up at the embassy in Knightsbridge since 2012 and was recently granted Ecuadorean citizenship.<\/p>\n
The IBT report emerged after Britain rejected Ecuador's application to assign the 46-year-old diplomatic status.<\/p>\n
Others have complained of Assanges questionable hygiene practices in the past.<\/p>\n
Julian ate everything with his hands and he always wiped his fingers on his pants. I have never seen pants as greasy as his in my whole life, one of his closest aides, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, told IBT.<\/p>\n
Jrmie Zimmermann, a friend and former colleague, wrote in 2012 that unless the people around him force him to shower, he might not change his clothes for days.<\/p>\n
U.S. officials told IBT that arresting Assange remains a priority, but would not confirm whether the government would request his extradition should he be arrested in the U.K.<\/p>\n
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