Kitten keeps WikiLeaks founder company as he nears four years in embassy

Julian Assange has a new companion in the Ecuadorian embassy Credit: Sunshine Press/PA

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been given a pet kitten for company - as he approaches the fourth anniversary of living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

The as yet un-named cat was a gift from Assange's young children.

It has its own Twitter account, under the handle @EmbassyCat.

Julian Assange's new pet kitten Credit: Sunshine Press/PA

Assange is wanted for questioning in Sweden over a sex allegation, which he denies.

He believes if he leaves the embassy he will be extradited to the United States to be questioned over the activities of WikiLeaks.

A European arrest warrant remains in place, and he has now been living in the Ecuadorian embassy since June 2012, after being granted asylum.

In February, a United Nations' working group found that Sweden and the UK were violating his rights and should release him and award compensation for detaining him without charge.

Assange's lawyers have made an application to the courts in Sweden to enforce the UN group's finding and are filing arguments again today.

They have asked for an oral hearing, which if accepted could happen by the end of May.