BBC News with Zoe Diamond

Ecuador says the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has requested political

asylum

after taking refuge at its embassy in London. Mr Assange is facing

extradition

from Britain to Sweden, where he's been accused of sexually assaulting two women. He denies the allegations and has written to the left-wing president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, complaining of the prosecution. Leonardo Rocha has more.

Mr Assange grabbed the headlines in 2010 when Wikileaks published a vast number of secret diplomatic cables from the American State Department. He's facing extradition to Sweden after losing a long legal battle to stay in Britain. In a letter to President Rafael Correa, Mr Assange says he's being prosecuted for publishing the truth and damaging the interests of the powerful. He asked for the protection of the government of Ecuador and adds that he can't go back to his native country Australia, which, in his words, abandoned him.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians have heated calls from the Muslim Brotherhood and other political groups to gather in Tahrir Square in Cairo to protest against sweeping new powers taken by the ruling military council. The protests are taking place as the presidential election result is still awaited. Lyse Doucet reports from close to Tahrir Square.

The Muslim Brotherhood yesterday called for a 'million man march'. They wanted people to come out to declare their opposition to the army's continuing hold on power. I don't think there's a million people in the square, but the crowds are growing louder and larger by the hour. The Muslim Brotherhood in the square below is already celebrating victory, while members of the rival camp of Ahmed Shafiq, the former prime minister, say they're the ones who won.