Assange prepared to stay in embassy for five years as deadlock continues He told a news conference that the Ecuadorean government was prepared to continue to allow Mr Assange to remain inside the embassy, following the decision last year to grant him political asylum. He made it clear that Mr Assange would not be smuggled out of the embassy in the boot of a car, saying he should be allowed to leave and go to Ecuador. Mr Assange is wanted in Sweden to answer allegations of sexual assault against two women but he fears if he goes he will then be extradited to the US to be questioned over the WikiLeaks website for publishing secret government documents. Mr Patino said it was "grossly unjust" that Mr Assange could not leave the embassy without being arrested. A Foreign Office spokesman said the two ministers agreed to keep channels of communication open, but made no breakthrough, adding: "Ministers agreed that officials should establish a working group to find a diplomatic solution to the issue of Julian Assange, but no substantive progress was made. The Foreign Secretary was clear once again that any resolution would need to be within the laws of the United Kingdom. Police have mounted a round-the-clock guard on the building, in London's Knightsbridge area, in an operation which has cost more than £3 million. Mr Patino admitted the police presence was "uncomfortable" for the embassy staff. He said that the group of legal officials should meet in the next few weeks, followed by a series of meetings between the two governments, in the UK and Ecuador. He talked with Mr Assange until 4am today and said he was in "good spirits." He did not say anything about his health. He said he was strong enough to stay in our embassy for at least five years if he is not granted safe passage. I would consider it a total injustice if he has to spend more time in our embassy. I hope Mr Assange will not grow old and die in our embassy - but we are defending human rights.