Julian Assange suffers from chronic lung disease

The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is suffering from a chronic lung disease that can worsen at any time, the ambassador of Ecuador in Great Britain said.

British authorities have announced that Assange will be arrested the moment he steps out of the embassy

"Ecuador is covering Mr. Assange's medical expenses and we have organized regular visits to the doctor to check his health," Ambassador Ana Alban told a local TV network during a visit to the Ecuadorian capital, Reuters reports.

Assange (41), whose website drew the ire of the US for publishing thousands of secret diplomatic cables, has been in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is accused of rape, which he denies.

Ecuadorean officials expressed concern about Assange's health last month

Police embassy

The British authorities announced that Assange will be arrested the moment he steps out of the embassy, ​​which is under constant police surveillance.

Ecuadorian officials last month expressed concern about Assange's health and asked Britain to guarantee him safe transport to hospital from the embassy if he needed treatment, after which he could return to the embassy with refugee status.

Assange said in late August that he expected to wait six months to a year for an agreement that would allow him to leave the embassy.