Talks between Britain and Ecuador have ended with no breakthrough over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in Ecuador's London embassy for nearly a year.

The Australian whistleblower fled to the embassy last June to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over sexual assault allegations, which he denies.

Ecuador granted him political asylum last August, but Britain has made it clear Mr Assange will be arrested if he tries to leave the embassy.

British foreign secretary William Hague and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Ricardo Patino, held talks in London on Monday.

The British Foreign Office says they "agreed to keep channels of communication open, but made no breakthrough" during the 45-minute meeting.

"Ministers agreed that officials should establish a working group to find a diplomatic solution to the issue of Julian Assange, but no substantive progress was made," it said in a statement.

"[Mr Hague] was clear once again that any resolution would need to be within the laws of the United Kingdom."

Mr Patino, who is on a visit to Britain, also met Mr Assange at the South American country's embassy.

He says Mr Assange is prepared to remain in the embassy for another five years, if necessary, until a diplomatic solution is found.

"The government of Ecuador believes the reasons for granting him asylum have not changed," he said.

"Mr Assange is not going to escape from our embassy. He is not going to get out through a tunnel or in the boot of a car.

Ecuador's foreign minister Ricardo Patino meets Julian Assange ( AFP: Andrew Cowie )

"Ecuador will not act irregularly. He will leave through the main door - he will go out the front, and to freedom."

Mr Assange denies the allegations of sexual assault made against him, saying they are politically motivated and linked to WikiLeaks' release of thousands of classified US documents.

Mr Assange fears that if he is sent to Sweden he might be liable for onward extradition to the United States to face potential charges over his website's actions.

US Army Private Bradley Manning, who passed the secret files to WikiLeaks, is currently on trial in the US on charges that include include "aiding the enemy".

Ecuador maintains that Mr Assange's extradition to a third country without proper guarantees is probable, and that legal evidence shows he would not get a fair trial if eventually transferred to the US.

Reuters/AFP