Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond: UN group's Assange detention report 'frankly ridiculous'

He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorian embassy in London - and called for him to be paid compensation.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Swedish and British authorities should end Mr Assange's "deprivation of liberty" and respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement.

Mr Assange spoke via Skype to a press conference in London, saying the UN report had brought a smile to his face, and insisting his detention had now been formally ruled as unlawful.

He said comments by Mr Hammond were "beneath" the minister's stature and insulting to the UN.

There had been intense interest in whether Mr Assange would leave the embassy, but it was clear he will remain inside the building as long as there is a threat of arrest.

He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over a sex allegation, which he has always denied, and believes he will be taken to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited.

He told the news conference that the UN Working Group's decision was legally binding, insisting there was no higher authority on whether detentions were lawful.

"It is insulting for the UN to call the decision ridiculous. Those comments were beneath the stature of a foreign minister."

Mr Assange said Sweden and the UK had opportunities in the past few weeks to appeal against the decision but had not taken any action, so the matter was now a "settled law".

He continued: "The UK and Sweden had their opportunities to lodge appeals in the last two weeks. They did not lodge an appeal. You cannot take part in a process and then at the end of it come out with press statements saying you disagree."

Comments such as those made by the Foreign Secretary were for "domestic consumption".

Mr Assange said: "It is the end of the road for legal arguments by the UK and Sweden. Those arguments lost and the time for an appeal is over.

"It is now the task of the states of the UK and Sweden to implement the verdict. They cannot pretend to look tough."

Mr Assange said the decision had strengthened the ability of the UN to deal with complex cases.

He finished his comments by saying he missed his family, adding: "We have a really strong victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well."

Melinda Taylor, part of Mr Assange's legal team, said the UN report made clear that the WikiLeaks founder was neither a fugitive from justice, nor could he just walk out of the embassy.

She called it a "damning indictment" of the way Mr Assange has been treated and showed his willingness to co-operate with the Swedish investigation.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel. We need the UK to step up to the plate so Julian can finally come out into the light."

Baltasar Garzon, another member of the legal team, told the news conference: "It is imperative they (UK and Sweden) respect the decision", adding that it was "mandatory to comply".

He also said it is one of the strongest decisions the Working Group has ever issued.

Today Seong-Phil Hong, who heads the expert UN panel, said: "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention.

"The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation."

But Mr Hammond said: "I reject the decision of this Working Group. It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers.

"Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy.

"He can come out any time he chooses ... But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so.

"This is, frankly, a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it."