QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's ambassador to Britain says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has developed a chronic lung infection and requires constant medical attention at his refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London.

Ambassador Ana Alban made the comment to reporters in the Ecuadorean capital of Quito on Wednesday without offering further details.

Assange took refuge in Ecuador's London embassy on June 19 after unsuccessfully fighting extradition from Britain to Sweden for questioning on sexual assault charges filed by two women. Ecuador later granted him asylum.

Alban says Ecuador is covering Assange's medical costs and continues to seek his safe passage out of Britain. British authorities have refused.

Assange gained fame for publishing online the biggest trove ever of sensitive documents, U.S. diplomatic cables and military files from the U.S. and Afghan wars.