Ecuador's foreign minister said his country had no intention of intervening with the British government in favor of Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, in talks about his status as a refugee at her embassy in London.
Jose Valencia, in an interview with Reuters, said Ecuador's responsibility was limited to Assange's sponsorship after the Australian filed a lawsuit against Ecuador over the new conditions imposed on his arrival at the embassy.
"Ecuador has no responsibility to take any further steps," Valencia said. "We are not Mr. Assange's lawyer, and we are not representatives of the British government, which should be resolved between Assange and Great Britain."
"Recent developments in the case show the need for the Australian government to intervene to help one of its citizens face a real threat," said Greg Barnes, an Australian lawyer representing Assange, in an e-mail.
Ecuador's position is a reversal of the previous position, which was based on continuing the dialogue with the British authorities on the status of Asang since he was granted asylum in 2012 after having visited the Ecuadorian embassy in London after British courts ordered him to be transferred to Sweden for questioning in a sexual harassment case.
The lawsuit was later dropped, but Asang's friends and supporters say he fears he may be arrested and then deported to the United States if he leaves the embassy.
WikiLeaks, which published US diplomatic and military secrets when it was run by Assange, faces an investigation in the United States.
Valencia said it was "frustrated" by Assange's decision to sue Ecuador last week over the new conditions for his medical bills, phone calls and the cleanliness of his pet. "There is no obligation in international agreements to pay Ecuador the cost of things like Mr. Assange's laundry. "
