CONFUSION surrounds the future of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has spent the past two years evading extradition to Sweden for questioning over alleged sex offences.

Reports had suggested 43-year-old Australian had claimed he would be leaving the building where he cannot be arrested by UK police "soon" due to health problems. It would lead to his immediate arrest. A WikiLeaks spokeswoman later said the comments had been a joke and he had no intention to give himself up.