Ecuador is examining the asylum case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the country's president has said.

Rafael Correa said Ecuador would make a "sovereign decision" after examining what danger there was to his life.

But he said his country would need to be cautious over the matter.

Mr Assange is at the country's London embassy, where he is seeking diplomatic asylum to prevent him being sent to Sweden to answer accusations of rape and assault, which he denies.

Ecuador's government has said it will make a decision on Mr Assange shortly.

Police say he faces arrest in the UK for breaching his bail conditions.

Mr Assange, 40, whose conditions include staying at his bail address between 22:00 and 08:00 BST, spent a second night at the embassy on Wednesday.

Death penalty

His website has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and international businesses.

Mr Assange fears if he is sent to Sweden it could lead to him being sent to the United States to face charges over Wikileaks, for which he could face the death penalty.

Speaking to BBC Mundo, the Ecuadorean president said: "Ecuador defends the right to live and we will have to check if there is danger of death [for Mr Assange]."