Julian Assange brands Government response to UN panel 'insulting'

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remained inside the Ecuadorian Embassy today, launching an attack against the Government for its "insulting" response to a UN working group report on his detention.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the working group's findings on the "arbitrary detention" of Mr Assange as "frankly ridiculous" and said the Australian was "hiding from justice".

He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorian embassy in London - and called for him to be paid compensation.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Swedish and British authorities should end Mr Assange's "deprivation of liberty" and respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement.

Mr Assange spoke via Skype to a press conference in London, saying the UN report had brought a smile to his face, and insisting his detention had now been formally ruled as unlawful.

He said comments by Mr Hammond were "beneath" the minister's stature and insulting to the UN.