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Swedish Prosecutors Offer To Quiz Assange In UK

Swedish Prosecutors Offer To Quiz Assange In UK

Swedish prosecutors have offered to question Julian Assange in London over sexual assault allegations against him.

The WikiLeaks founder faces an arrest warrant in Sweden over claims he sexually assaulted two women in 2010.

Prosecutors had previously refused to travel to London, where Mr Assange has claimed asylum at Ecuador's embassy.

But lead prosecutor Marianne Ny, explaining the new stance, said some of the crimes Mr Assange is accused of will reach their statute of limitations in August.

"My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorean embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview, and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future," Ms Ny said.

"Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies in the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward."

One of Mr Assange's lawyers, Per Samuelson, welcomed the offer.

He said Mr Assange would likely accept it after reviewing it in detail.

"This is something we've demanded for over four years.

"Julian Assange wants to be interviewed so he can be exonerated."

The 43-year-old Australian took refuge at the embassy in June 2012 after failing to stop proceedings to extradite him to Sweden.

He faces arrest if he leaves the embassy and has been under continual surveillance with police stationed outside the building.

Mr Assange said he did not want to go to Sweden as he feared he would then be extradited again to the United States for questioning over the publication by WikiLeaks of confidential information.

He denies the sexual assault allegations.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "As we have made clear previously, we stand ready to assist the Swedish prosecutor, as required."

Officials have pointed out that because Mr Assange is out of the reach of UK authorities, any arrangements would have to be agreed between Swedish prosecutors, Mr Assange and the Ecuadorian embassy.