Assange and diplomatic asylum: A primer

By Mariano Castillo, CNN
August 17, 2012 -- Updated 2054 GMT (0454 HKT)

... But controversies over countries using diplomatic asylum to protect people wanted for crimes led to the practice falling out of favor, according to a United Nations report devoted to the subject in 1975 ...

The <International Court of Justice> ruled that diplomatic asylum is not recognized unless treaties or other agreements are in place between countries ...

In fact, Happold said, under international law, if the U.K. officially requests Ecuador to hand over Assange, Ecuador would be legally obligated to do so ...

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/17/world/uk-assange-international-law/index.html