Sweden gets closer to break Assange standoff

Ecuador has agreed to open talks with Sweden to break the ongoing standoff over the interrogation of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, holed up at the Ecuadorean embassy here since 2012, over alleged sex crimes he committed in 2010.
The talks will focus on allowing Swedish authorities to question Assange at his hideout in the Ecuadorean mission here.
"The coming discussions will show if this is a way forward," said Cecilia Riddselius, the senior Swedish justice ministry official responsible for the case.
The announcement came as the Swedish statute of limitations on two allegations of unlawful coercion made against the Australian national by two Swedish women expires on August 13, while another count of sexual molestation expires on August 18.

It has raised questions over whether Assange might walk free but the prospect is unlikely as he still faces a potential charge of rape, the limitation on which does not run out until 2020.
Assange, 44, is wanted for questioning in Sweden over alleged sex crimes in Stockholm in August 2010 but resisted extradition, seeking assurances that he would not be transferred to the US where he is wanted on spying charges.

In 2012, he was given political asylum by Ecuador and has been confined inside its UK embassy ever since.
He has not been charged with any offence but Sweden has issued a European arrest warrant.

Meanwhile, the British government has been bearing the brunt of the stalemate, which has cost Scotland Yard over 10-million pounds in providing round-the-clock security at the embassy in central London.
"We are frustrated that the interview has not yet taken place. This remains a deeply unsatisfactory and costly situation," said UK Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire.
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