A deal has been reached that could lead to the imminent questioning of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over accusations of rape, the Ecuadorian government has said.
Mr Assange has been holed up in the country's embassy in London since 2012 and denies the allegations made against him by two women.
He faces extradition to Sweden if he leaves the Knightsbridge building. He believes that travelling to the Scandinavian nation is merely the first step in a move to take him to the US over WikiLeaks secret-spilling activities.
But according to the website of Ecuador's foreign ministry, he could soon be questioned while inside the building thanks to a new deal struck between Ecuador and Sweden.
An online statement says the agreement eases "judicial procedures such as the questioning of Mr Assange".
Prosecutors in August dropped cases of lesser sexual misconduct against the 44-year-old Australian. But they still want to ask about accusations of rape during his visit to Sweden in 2010.
