A document that says that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to be arrested in any circumstances if he comes out of the Embassy of Ecuador is seen on a police officer's clipboard. (Editor's note: Part of the document has been pixelated by Press Association news agency.)
(CNN) -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is trying to avoid extradition from Britain to Sweden over allegations of rape and other sex crimes by seeking asylum at the embassy of Ecuador in London. Assange's move is dramatic, but he's not the first person to seek an escape route through a diplomatic mission. Here are some key precedents.
Chen Guangcheng. U.S. Embassy in Beijing, 2012. The self-taught lawyer and activist escaped house arrest one night in April and fled to the U.S. Embassy, where he spent six days before leaving for medical treatment. Chen later flew out of China with his family for a fellowship at New York University.
Ecuador grants asylum to WikiLeaks' Assange
Jozsef Mindszenty. U.S. Embassy in Hungary, 1956-1971. Vocally anti-Communist Hungarian Catholic Cardinal Mindszenty lived in the U.S. Embassy in Budapest for 15 years after the Soviet-led invasion of his country. He finally agreed to go into exile and died in Austria in 1975.
Assange will be arrested if he comes out of embassy in London, police rep. says
Assange granted asylum in Ecuador
Chen Guangcheng's life in New York
Svetlana Alliluyeva. U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, 1967. Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's only daughter got permission to bring her lover's ashes to India, then defected by walking into the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and burning her passport. She lived in the United States as Lana Peters until her death last November.
Manuel Noriega. Vatican Embassy in Panama City, 1989. U.S. forces invaded Panama to topple and arrest Noriega, prompting the dictator to seek refuge in the Holy See's mission. American troops set up large speakers around the compound, blaring music at all hours, a psychological ploy to rattle the general. He surrendered after 10 days and was taken to the United States for trial. He was found guilty of drug trafficking and other crimes.
Wang Lijun. U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, China, 2012. One of China's best-known police chiefs sought refuge at a U.S. consulate amid a mystery over the death of British businessman Neil Heywood, a family friend of Wang's boss, top Communist party official Bo Xilai. The case was reopened after Wang's intervention, which appeared to implicate Bo -- but Wang was taken into Chinese custody when he left the diplomatic mission and has not been seen since.
Why Assange needs Ecuador and Ecuador needs Assange
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A zoomed in version of the document carried by the police officer.
Assange addresses the media and his supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Sunday, August 19.
Assange demanded that the United States drop its "witch hunt" against WikiLeaks as he made his first public appearance after months effectively confined to the Embassy of Ecuador in London.
Assange talks with his legal adviser Balthasar Garcon, right, inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London before stepping onto the balcony to make his speech.
Protesters gather Thursday, August 16, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been living since June. Ecuador announced it would grant Assange asylum over fears of political persecution.
Media gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after Thursday's announcement. Meanwhile, Britain vowed to extradite the WikiLeaks founder to Sweden to face questioning on sex crime charges.
Journalist John Pilger arrives to visit Assange, his friend, at the embassy in Knightsbridge.
Police stand guard outside the entrance. The British government insists the UK still has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden.
Assange supporters scuffled with police, with every moment captured by the dozens of cameramen gathered outside.
Embassy staff serve coffee to the media waiting outside the building for a glimpse of Assange.
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