The Ecuadorian government has removed an official from its London embassy accused of having a close rapport with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Foreign Minister Jose Valencia has told Democracia radio in Quito the civil servant "worked in a very close way" with Assange.
Valencia did not provide the official's name or go into any detail, other than to say that embassy workers must respond first to the Ecuadorian state.
The removal comes as tensions between Ecuador and Assange continue to mount.
Ecuador recently accused WikiLeaks of helping spread leaked personal documents belonging to President Lenin Moreno.
British police stationed officers outside Ecuador's embassy last week after tweets from WikiLeaks claiming Assange could be kicked out of the building
