Assange: UK Government Official Calls Ecuador

The British Government is trying to defuse escalating diplomatic tensions with Ecuador over the Julian Assange case, according to Sky News sources.

Foreign Office sources told Sky News a senior official had spoken to the Ecuadorian ambassador in London on Thursday.

However, they added: "We are not prepared to divulge the contents of what was a private conversation."

Earlier, Ecuador said it would file a motion to the Organisation of American States urging it to condemn UK threats to enter its embassy.

The call came as Mr Assange spent his first full day in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since being granted political asylum by the country's government.

The WikiLeaks founder dubbed the move as a "significant and historic victory" and tweeted that he will thank his followers outside the embassy this Sunday.

Foreign Secretary William Hague stressed Mr Assange would not be allowed safe passage out of the UK.

The Australian has been taking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy for the past two months to avoid extradition to Sweden on charges of sexual assault.

He denies the claims and fears being sent to the United States if he goes to Sweden.

Mr Hague said it is a "matter of regret" that the Ecuadorian government granted Mr Assange political asylum but warned that it "does not change the fundamentals" of the case.

The case could go on for some "considerable" time, he said.

He added: "We will not allow Mr Assange safe passage out of the United Kingdom, nor is there any legal basis for us to do so."

Ecuadorian ministers earlier accused the UK of threatening to raid the embassy after it emerged a law from 1987 could allow revocation of a building's diplomatic status.

However, under international law, diplomatic posts are considered the territory of the foreign nation.

Mr Hague insisted: "There is no threat here to storm an embassy. We are talking about an Act of Parliament in this country which stresses that it must be used in full conformity with international law."

The Swedish foreign ministry said it has summoned Ecuador's ambassador over the Latin American country's "unacceptable" decision to grant asylum.

The Union of South American Nations has convened an extraordinary meeting in Ecuador on Sunday to discuss the situation at the embassy.