Wikileaks founder Julian Assange earned a reprieve on Thursday as a UN panel gave the verdict that he has been 'arbitrarily detained' in London, BBC reported.
However, it is not clear if the ruling will help him to freedom. The British police said the arrest warrant against him was still in place and he will be arrested if he steps out of the Ecuador embassy.
As he awaited the UN panel ruling, Assange had said he would subject himself to arrest by the UK police if the verdict went against him. He demanded the warrant to be dropped if the ruling favoured him.
Assange has been living in the Ecuador embassy in London since 2012 when he took refuge there, avoiding arrest and extradition to Sweden to face sex assault charges.
Assange, an Australian, kicked up a storm by publishing thousands of leaked US diplomatic cables through his whistleblower website.
