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The Wikileaks founder has been living in the South American country’s embassy building since 2012 after seeking asylum there over fears he would be extradited to the US on espionage charges.

He originally went into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued so he could be sent to Sweden over sexual assault and rape allegations.

But he has reportedly overstayed his welcome since former Ecuadorian president, Rafael Corra, granted him political asylum.

Sources have said the UK and Ecuadorian Governments are keen to strike a deal to get him out.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: GETTY)

It comes as Ecuador’s new leadership has fallen out with Assange, cutting off his internet access, installing phone jammers, and banning most visitors from seeing him.

President Lenin Moreno described Assange as a “hacker” and “stone in the shoe” who is a problem he “inherited” from his country’s previous Premier, the Sunday Times reported.

And although Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Jose Valencia said it is not up to the US to decide the Wikipedia founder’s fate, he also said Assange’s stay in the embassy could not last forever.

He said: “Ecuador has been looking for a solution to this problem.

“The refuge is not forever, you cannot expect it to last for years without us reviewing this situation, including because this violates the rights of the refugee.”

Assange’s internet was initially cut-off over a number of tweets he sent out about Catalan’s bid for independence from Spain.

As well as the Ecuadorian Government spending millions monitoring his communications, the UK has also spent huge sums keeping police officers permanently stationed outside the embassy to arrest him in case tries to leave.