Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

A British policeman asks a taxi driver, who had apparently arrived following a request to pick up Julian Assange, to leave after he pulled up outside the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where the Wikileaks founder has sought political asylum, on August 16, 2012.

Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

Supporters of Julian Assange gather outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London on August 16, 2012. Assange has been living inside the embassy since June 19 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault.

Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

A supporter of Julian Assange is held by police outside the Ecuador embassy in London on August 16, 2012.

Updated at 8:52 a.m. ET: LONDON -- Ecuador granted asylum to Julian Assange on Thursday, expressing fury at a threat by Britain to seize the WikiLeaks founder at its London embassy.

NBC News wire services report — Protesters chanting slogans in support of Julian Assange tussled with police outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London on Thursday after Britain said it might enter the building to detain the WikiLeaks founder holed up inside.

A Reuters reporter saw at least three protesters being dragged away by police as the crowd shouted: "You are trying to start a war with Ecuador." About 20 officers were outside the embassy trying to push away the crowd of about 15 supporters. Read the full story.

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appears at Belmarsh Magistrates court on January 11 in London, England. Mr Assange is appearing in court today to fight against his extradition to Sweden, where he is sought for questioning over alleged sex crimes.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court, sitting at Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London, on January 11. Assange continues his fight against extradition to Sweden for alleged sexual assault.

msnbc.com staff and news service reports:

LONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange vowed to increase the release of revelations related to secret U.S. diplomatic cables after he appeared in British court Tuesday as part of his fight to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Assange said the website is "stepping up our publishing for matters related to Cablegate and other materials."

New revelations "will shortly be appearing through our newspaper partners around the world, big and small newspapers and some human rights organizations," he told reporters outside a London court.