In a U-turn, Sweden offers to question Assange in London – Newspaper – DAWN.COM

STOCKHOLM: Swedish prosecutors offered on Friday to question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London over rape allegations, in a U-turn that could provide a breakthrough in the deadlocked case.

One of Mr Assanges lawyers welcomed the prosecutors proposal, saying the interview would be a first step in clearing his client who took refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden and has been there ever since.

He will accept to be questioned in London, lawyer Per Samuelsson said, adding that Mr Assange was happy about the development. We are cooperating with the investigation, he said.

Also read: Assange loses appeal against Swedish arrest warrant

Britains Foreign Office pledged its help, saying: As we have made clear previously, we stand ready to assist the Swedish prosecutor, as required.

However, WikiLeaks said the handling of the case had left a black stain on Swedens human rights record. Up to now, Swedish prosecutors have refused to go to London to question the 43-year-old Australian former hacker over the allegations.

And Mr Assange has refused to go to Sweden to be questioned over the allegations, which he has vehemently denied, saying the sexual encounters were consensual.

But the prosecutor in charge of the case, Marianne Ny, said on Friday she was dropping her opposition as some of the alleged offences would reach their statute of limitations in August.

Ms Nys office said in a statement she had always believed that interrogating Mr Assange at the Ecuadorean embassy 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.

This assessment remains unchanged, she said, but added now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies... and likewise take the risk the interview does not move the case forward, particularly as there are no other measures on offer without Assange being present in Sweden.

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In a U-turn, Sweden offers to question Assange in London - Newspaper - DAWN.COM