iTWire

Moreno was reported as saying on Thursday that there was a path for Assange to "exit into near freedom", noting that any sentence which the UK imposed on him for skipping bail would not be more than six months.

He indicated that the UK has told Quito that Assange would not face extradition to the US, which is what the WikiLeaks chief fears.

Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, told Britain's Telegraph newspaper that the deal was unacceptable.

Last month, it emerged that the US may have already filed charges against Assange. This came to light after portions of a complaint against him were apparently cut and pasted into a complaint against an unrelated individual, Seitu Sulayman Kokayi.

Pollack said that any suggestion Assange need not fear persecution just because the death penalty was not being considered for him by the US was wrong.

He said nobody should face criminal charges for publishing the truth and, since such charges appeared to have been filed against Assange, Ecuador should continue to give him protection.

Assange has said in the past that he fears being extradited to the US if he leaves the embassy in London. Last year, US officials said arresting him was a top priority.