The Ecuador President has again justified giving Julian Assange asylum in an interview on television that featured the first footage of the Wikileaks founder inside his country's embassy in London.
There was a fleeting glimpse of Mr Assange looking relieved as his lawyer Balthasar Garcon arrived.
Other footage showed embassy workers and supporters of Mr Assange meeting as a frenzy of attention gathers outside.
In the interview Rafael Correa seemed in no mood to soften his position passionately justifying his actions.
He again condemned Britain for threatening to invade the embassy and seize Mr Assange, calling the move intolerable.
And he warned Britain any attempt to do so would be suicidal.
"It would be a suicide for the United Kingdom to enter the Ecuadorian embassy," Mr Correa said.
"It will be a precedent that would allow later on for the diplomatic premises of (the UK) in other territories to be violated in every corner of the planet."
Mr Assange makes his weekend address to supporters This was a leader looking confident in the knowledge his actions have won him popular support and regional backing from allies across the continent. He is not about to give all that up.
The chances of a negotiated solution seem as remote as ever.
Mr Correa condemned Britain and Sweden for intransigence but offered little flexibility himself.
Many Ecuadoreans have applauded their president's actions - some though are sceptical about his intentions.
President Correa can use the episode to present himself as a defender of free speech, but the reality of his record in Ecuador is very different.
In a cafe in Quito one man told Sky News his president had "absolutely not" been a champion of free speech.
"This is a strategy of the government to posture on the world stage because here inside the country he doesn't respect free expression and social organisation."
Writers, journalists and editors of newspapers who have criticised Mr Correa have been prosecuted, jailed and fined.
New laws have been used to shut down independent TV stations.
Jorge Ortiz was one of Ecuador's most watched presenters till his channel was forced out of business.
"I think Correa is fooling the world. He uses very wisely the media to present himself as a leader that respects and promotes free press which is not true," he said.
"We're very worried very worried indeed we know that he is killing the right of journalist to express themselves. I'm sure that within two or three years there will not be any free press in Ecuador."
