By Melissa Davies
Julian Assange has stepped outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the first time in two months – but only just.
And for good reason: his appearance on a balcony was ringed by a British police cordon.
Squinting at the outside light, Assange gave a thumbs up as he emerged, at least partially, from the building where he has been in self-imposed exile since June.
He stood on a balcony at the Ecuadorian embassy, not daring to go any further.
"I am here today because I cannot be there with you today," he told the crowd.
This is as close as police have been able to get to Assange for the last two months, and as he stands on the balcony there were 100 police officers just in the block where the embassy is located – but still he's just out of their reach.
Assange taunted those officers by telling supporters he didn't believe he'd be arrested in front of such huge crowds. He says that's why police abandoned an attempt to storm the building last week.
"Inside this embassy after dark, I could hear teams of police swarming up into the building through its internal fire escape,"said Assange, "but I knew there would be witnesses, and that is because of you."
Assange appeared to relish the publicity, accusing the US of a witch hunt against WikiLeaks, but he made no mention at all of the rape claims in Sweden which his extradition is based on.
But he has high-profile support in Britain: fashion designer Vivienne Westwood sent a letter to be read out to rally the crowd.
"His fight is our fight," read Assange. "It is a fight for freedom. Freedom for information. We are Julian Assange. I am Julian Assange. With love, from Vivienne."
Assange's legal advisor issued a cryptic message, saying Assange is currently working on legal action to protect the rights of WikiLeaks and himself.
"There is unity in the oppression, there must be absolute unity and determination in the response."
But for now there seems no path for unity between Ecuador and Britain, and Assange's defiant speech is likely to have further divided the two.
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