AKIPRESS.COM - Ecuador has acknowledged it partly restricted internet access for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is staying at its embassy in London, BBC reported.

In a statement, Ecuador's foreign ministry denied its move was the result of pressure from the US.

WikiLeaks earlier accused the US of asking Ecuador to stop the site publishing documents about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The US state department said the allegation was "simply untrue".

Transparency activist Julian Assange has sought asylum at London's Ecuadorean embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition over sex assault allegations.

In a statement (in Spanish), the Ecuadorian foreign ministry said WikiLeaks' decision to publish documents which could impact the US presidential election was entirely its own responsibility, and Quito did not want to interfere in the electoral process.

"In that respect, Ecuador, exercising its sovereign right, has temporarily restricted access to part of its communications systems in its UK Embassy," the statement said.

It added that "Ecuador does not cede to pressures from other countries".

WikiLeaks earlier said that Ecuador cut off Mr Assange's internet access on Saturday evening.