Police officers who have been stationed for more three years outside London's Ecuadorian Embassy to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange were withdrawn Monday, officials said.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks during a press conference inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Aug. 18, 2014. John Stillwell / AP

Assange took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over sexual assault and rape allegations against two women.

London's Metropolitan Police had stationed officers 24 hours a day outside the building, ready to arrest him if he left.

On Monday, the force said it was "no longer proportionate to commit officers to a permanent presence."

In a statement, it added that officers remained "committed to executing the arrest warrant and presenting Julian Assange before the court" and vowed to "deploy a number of overt and covert tactics to arrest him."