The mother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Mondayafter meeting with Ecuador's foreign minister that she's worried about herson's health after nearly seven weeks' confinement at the South Americannation's London embassy.
"He is under a lot of stress and it's been long-term stress now for nearlytwo years and in conditions which are similar to detention," ChristineAssange told The Associated Press.
Her son took refuge in the embassy on June 19, requesting political asylumafter exhausting all legal appeals to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he iswanted for questioning about sexual misconduct allegations.
Julian Assange, who angered U.S. officials by publishing secret U.S. diplomaticcables and military documents, calls the accusations trumped up and says hefears Sweden will extradite him to the United States for trial.
Ecuadorean officials have said they will not announce a decision on the asylumrequest until after the London Olympic Games end in mid-August.
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said his country is doing "everythingpossible to protect the life of Mr. Assange."
"For that reason we are engaged in conversation with the Swedish and governmentand also with Great Britain before speaking to the United States," headded.
Ecuadorean officials are seeking assurances that Sweden and Britain would notallow Julian Assange to be extradited to the United States, Britain's Guardiannewspaper reported last week, citing unnamed officials at the country's Londonembassy.
Patino did not confirm that but echoed the concern expressed by Assange'smother that the WikiLeaks founder would be mistreated if sent to the UnitedStates.
"We have received very sensitive information about torture that Australiancitizens have received at the (U.S.) Guantanamo base, American citizens, too,and of a possible trial that a grand jury in Virginia is preparing againstJulian Assange," he told reporters after meeting with her.
The reference was to terror suspects that the U.S. has kept at Guantanamo andunconfirmed claims by Julian Assange's supporters that U.S. officials plan toindict him, as occurred with U.S. serviceman Bradley Manning, who is accused ofleaking documents to WikiLeaks.
Patino said Ecuador's ambassador in Sweden is requesting that Swedishprosecutors visit Julian Assange in the London embassy and question him there.
Christine Assange was asked by the AP if Ecuador would grant asylum to her sonif it is unable to secure guarantees from Sweden and Britain that he will notbe extradited to the United States.
"I don't know," she said in an interview.
She said she speaks to her son about every 10 days, and they don't much discusshis day-to-day life.
"We are also aware that our phones are being monitored and do not wish totalk about personal matters," she said,.
Christine Assange said her son doesn't get any natural sun light so she isarranging "for thinks like a sunlamp."
She said he has a treadmill to run on for exercise, and friends "turn themusic on and encourage him to dance with them."