WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange made a statement on Sunday afternoon, two months on from first entering Ecuador's London embassy.

The Australian enraged the US government in 2010 when his WikiLeaks website published secret diplomatic cables.

He said that he had taken a "stand for justice" and praised the "courageous South American nation" of Ecuador.

Assange called on the United States to "end its witch hunt" against the WikiLeaks organisation and to release Bradley Manning, who is charged with leaking classified information.

"The next time that somebody tells you that it is pointless to defend those rights that we hold dear, remind them of your vigil in the dark before the embassy of Ecuador," he said.

"Remind them how, in the morning, the sun came up on a different world, and a courageous Latin American nation took a stand for justice."

It was announced last week that he had been granted political asylum, sparking a major diplomatic row between Ecuador, Sweden and the British Government.

He is also wanted in Sweden on sexual assault allegations.

Mr Assange denies the allegations he faces in Sweden and fears being transferred to America if he travels to contest them.