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Swedish appeals court upholds detention order for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Xinhua, September 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Swedish appeals court has rejected WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's latest attempt to make prosecutors drop a rape investigation against him since 2010, meaning the 45-year-old Australian will remain in detention.

The decision by the Svea Court of Appeal on Friday means the arrest warrant stands for Assange. He has avoided extradition to Sweden by seeking shelter at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012. Ecuador has accepted his asylum application.

Assange denies the rape allegation made in 2010 during his visit to Stockholm, after which he was detained "in absentia." He has challenged the detention order several times, and says that he fears he will be extradited to the United States to face charges if he leaves the embassy.

Assange's Swedish defense lawyer, Per Samuelsson, said he would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, according to Swedish Television.

In August, the Ecuadorian embassy accepted a request for Assange's questioning to be held there. The interview is due to take place on Oct. 17. It will be conducted by an Ecuadorian prosecutor, but a Swedish chief prosecutor and a police investigator will be present to ask questions via the Ecuadorian prosecutor. Endit