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Swedish prosecutor asks to question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London

Swedish prosecutors have asked for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s approval to question him in London where he is holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy.

WikiLeaks

One of Assange’s lawyers said he welcomed the request but noted concern the process could take time given that approval was also needed from British and Ecuadorian authorities.

Sweden wants to question him on allegations of sexual assault and rape, which he denies. Prosecutors said they were also asking to conduct a DNA test of Assange, who has been stuck inside the South American country’s London embassy since June 2012 to avoid a British extradition to Sweden.

A Swedish appeals court late last year upheld a detention order but said prosecutors had not made enough effort, noting the “failure of the prosecutors to examine alternative avenues is not in line with their obligation”.

The prosecution had long refused to go to London for the questioning and said the main reason it had changed its mind was that a number of the crimes Assange was suspected of would be subject to statutes of limitation in August.

Prosecutor Marianne Ny said she still believed that questioning him at the embassy would lower the quality of the interview and that he would need to be present in Sweden should the case come to a trial.

“Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies to the investigation,” she said in a statement.

Sweden’s Supreme Court is currently weighing whether to try the request from Assange to have the warrant for his arrest lifted, and has asked the prosecutor to submit an opinion on the matter before a decision can be taken.

The Australian says he fears that if Britain extradited him to Sweden he would then be extradited to the United States where he could be tried for one of the largest information leaks in US history.

Assange was initially taken into custody in London but freed on bail, later claiming political asylum in Ecuador’s embassy.

 

THE KEY DATES

A Swedish prosecutor issues a European arrest warrant for Assange on sexual assault charges involving two Swedish women. Assange denies the charges.

Assange turns himself in to police in London and is placed in custody pending a ruling on the Swedish extradition request. Assange is later released on bail and under the conditions he must live at a supporter's mansion in England.

A British judge rules Assange can be extradited to Sweden. Assange fears Sweden will hand him over to American authorities for prosecution, which could see him face the death penalty for publishing the documents.

Assange enters the Ecuadorian embassy in London seeking political asylum. He is allowed to stay inside under the protection of the Ecuadorian government.

Ecuador demands Britain provide safe conduct for Assange so that he may fly to Quito.

A Swedish court upholds the European arrest warrant against Assange.

Assange says he will "soon" leave Ecuador's embassy. His lawyer says he will not leave the embassy until it is guaranteed he will avoid extradition to the United States.

Swedish prosecutors say that they do not plan to go to London to question Assange over the rape allegations.

Assange loses an appeal against the arrest warrant.

Swedish prosecutors offer to come to question Assange in London. Assange accepts the offer.

 

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