Assange Asylum Plea: Hollande Says Non

French President Francois Hollande has turned down a request from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to grant him asylum in France.

A letter from Assange to Mr Hollande has been published in French newspaper Le Monde in which he appeals to France's history as a protector of the oppressed.

The WikiLeaks founder, who has been in the Ecuadorian Embassy for the past three years, also pointed out that it was his organisation that revealed the US National Security Agency had spied on the French leader and his two predecessors.

However, that revelation did not sway Mr Hollande who was firm in his rejection of the request.

A statement from his office said that the Australian is under a European arrest warrant and his life is not in immediate danger.

Other well-known figures including footballing legend and philosopher Eric Cantona and economist Thomas Piketty urged the president to grant Julian Assange haven.

The Ecuadorians granted Mr Assange asylum on 19 June 2012.

He is wanted by the Swedish authorities in connection with allegations over sexual assault and lesser-degree rape - he denies all the allegations.

Swedish prosecutors have repeatedly refused to come to Britain to speak to him about the allegations but, in March of this year, they said they would be willing to interview him in the UK.

The cost of guarding the embassy to ensure Mr Assange does not escape has so far cost the Met Police around £8m.