Assange's stay in the U.K. has taken many twists and turns. The Swedish Prosecution Authority issued a European Arrest Warrant for Assange in November 2010, seeking his extradition to Sweden for questioning over allegations of sexual offenses. He was then arrested in London on Dec. 7, 2010, and placed under virtual house arrest while courts examined the extradition request, which he opposed.

Once Assange was in residence at the embassy, Ecuador offered Sweden the opportunity to question him there, but the suggestion was declined.

Assange's supporters feared that, in Sweden, he could face up to a year in solitary confinement awaiting questioning and up to four years in prison if he is charged and subsequently convicted.

They also feared that, from Sweden, he could be transferred to the U.S. to face charges under that country's Espionage Act. Rumors persist that the U.S. has empaneled a federal grand jury to determine whether charges should be brought against Assange.

Two of WikiLeaks' most widely reported leaks involved U.S. diplomatic cables ("Cablegate") and video from a U.S. helicopter gunship in Iraq (the so-called "Collateral Murder" video). A U.S. Army private, Bradley Manning, is charged with leaking the documents and is being held pending a military trial.