LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on US President Barack Obama to stop its “witch-hunt” against his whistleblowing website, as he gave a speech from Ecuador's embassy in London yesterday.

“I ask President Obama to do the right thing, the United States must renounce its witch-hunt against WikiLeaks,” said Assange, making his first public statement since he was granted political asylum by Ecuador.

Speaking from a balcony at the embassy in an upmarket district of London, Assange praised the “courage” shown by the Latin American nation's President Rafael Correa for granting him asylum.

“I thank President Correa for the courage he has shown in considering and in granting me political asylum,” Assange told journalists and a handful of his supporters gathered outside the embassy.

Earlier, WikiLeaks had said that Assange would make a statement outside the embassy, stirring speculation that he would be arrested by British police arrayed in force outside the red-brick legation in the opulent Knightsbridge district of London.

But a workman inside the embassy could be seen yesterday morning prising the hinges off a door leading to a small balcony on the corner of the embassy, signalling that Assange would speak from that perch to keep himself safe from arrest.

“I cannot go into details of that for security reasons,” a spokesman for WikiLeaks said when asked how Assange would make his statement.

Assange, an Australian, is wanted in Sweden for questioning regarding allegations of rape and sexual assault and Britain has said he will not be granted safe passage out of his Ecuadorean embassy refuge, which enjoys diplomatic status.

Assange, 41, took sanctuary in the embassy in June after exhausting appeals in British courts against extradition to Sweden. He says he fears Sweden would eventually hand him over to the United States where, in his view, he would face persecution and long-term imprisonment.

A police helicopter circled overhead while about 100 British police officers in black stab vests were stationed outside the embassy yesterday morning, lining walls under the balcony where Assange was expected to speak.

The exterior door was earlier removed from the balcony above which the yellow, blue and red Ecuadorean flag was draped in what appeared to be preparations for Assange's appearance.

The balcony was likely to be deemed part of the Ecuadorean embassy, thus insulating him from arrest by British police.

Meanwhile, more than 50 of Assange supporters, many of whom have slept on sheets of cardboard outside the building since Wednesday, have decorated barriers with messages of support for Assange and placards reading “asylum - end the witch hunt”.