WikiLeaks founder "could be holed up in Ecuadorian embassy for years"

 Julian Assange could spend years holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in a bid to dodge extradition to Sweden, an expert said today.

Diplomatic adviser Paul Whiteway warned today that Mr Assange's bid for asylum could take 'a long time to resolve.'

He was also doubtful about whether the WikiLeaks chief, who faces allegations of rape in Sweden, would be allowed to leave the country even if granted asylum, as it could lead to other suspected criminals trying to seek refuge in foreign embassies.

Mr Whiteway, the London director of diplomatic consultancy International Diplomat, said Ecuador would be 'anxious' to avoid upsetting Britain or Sweden and that Mr Assange may have called President Rafael Correa's bluff by accepting his 2010 offer of asylum.

He spoke as Mr Assange spend a third night at the Knightsbridge embassy, with staff at the building still unsure of when the wrangle could be resolved.

Mr Whiteway said: "The issues involved could take a long time to resolve. There have been cases of people spending months or even years in an embassy while these issues are resolved.

"There are precedents of people taking refuge in foreign embassies which have gone on for years, although I don't think that this will take years.

Mr Whiteway added: "Taking refuge in an embassy is one thing but leaving it and going to the country where that embassy belongs is quite another.

"I find it hard to imagine a scenario in which he can leave the UK after he has violated his bail. I think the police will arrest him as soon as he leaves the building. Even if he is granted asylum, he still has to get into the diplomatic car in the first place.

"I think the Ecuadorian Embassy will be very anxious to avoid anything like that.

"I do not see how the British government could accept a situation where someone who has violated his bail could just walk out and leave the country. If that happens anyone with a legal case who feels like leaving the country would take refuge in a foreign embassy."

Mr Whiteway stressed that Ecuador would be keen on not aggravating Britain and Sweden, regardless of President Correa's criticism of the United States or his offer of asylum to Mr Assange.

He said: "Another key thing is Ecuador building and maintaining a relationship with Britain and Sweden. It's not just a question of Mr Correa's attitude to the US.

"I think their bluff has been called in a way that's quite embarrassing for them."

A cavalcade of police cars arrived at the Ecuadorian Embassy at lunchtime - and left within ten minutes with no sign of Julian Assange.

Just before midday several policemen entered the Knightsbridge embassy by a side door.

A black Range Rover parked directly outside it, and was flanked by another Range Rover and two marked police cars.

Uniformed and plain-clothes policemen entered and left the side door several times, but there was no sign of Mr Assangein the internal corridor.

The cars and police officers left after ten minutes. Telegraph