Assange to make 1st public appearance in 2 months

(AP) WikiLeaks says founder Julian Assange is making his first public appearance since he took refuge inside Ecuador's Embassy in London two months ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual misconduct allegations.

Assange planned to speak later Sunday, likely from a balcony at the embassy, a small apartment in London's ritzy Knightsbridge district where the WikiLeaks activist fled on June 19.

He sought shelter there after exhausting all routes of appeal in the U.K. to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning over the sex crime allegations.

Ecaudor on Thursday granted Assange asylum. However, Britain says Assange will be arrested and sent to Sweden the moment he steps foot outside the embassy.

WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson said former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, who is representing Assange, also plans to speak.