Julian Assange police guard cost nears £3m

[Gerald]

The cost of a round-the-clock guard outside the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where Julian Assange took refuge last June, has reached almost £3m, the Metropolitan Police have said.

Scotland Yard estimated costs of £2.3m in pay that would have covered normal duties, and £600,000 on overtime.

The Wikileaks website founder faces extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations, which he denies.

Mr Assange, 41, fears onward extradition to the US.

He believes he could face charges there over the release of top secret documents by Wikileaks, whose publication of a mass of leaked diplomatic cables has embarrassed a number of countries.

Sweden wants to question him over allegations that he sexually assaulted two female ex-Wikileaks supporters while he was in Stockholm to give a lecture in 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21480648

Tax money from British citizens,


Note: 15 February 2013 Last updated at 18:56 GMT