WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has failed to have a Swedish detention order overturned but is buoyed by the fact prosecutors have been criticised for allowing their sex assault investigation to stall. <\/p>\n
The Court of Appeal in Stockholm on Thursday refused to set aside a detention order granted in late 2010 over allegations Assange molested and raped two women. <\/p>\n
But in the process the court noted the investigation had ground to a halt. <\/p>\n
\"The failure of the prosecutors to examine alternative avenues is not in line with their obligation - in the interests of everyone concerned - to move the preliminary investigation forward,\" the court said. <\/p>\n
Assange's legal team believes that warning means prosecutor Marianne Ny will now have to travel to London to interview Assange in Ecuador's embassy. <\/p>\n
The 43-year-old has been holed up there since August 2012 when he was granted political asylum by the South Americans. <\/p>\n
\"The pressure on the prosecutor to do something has increased,\" Assange's Swedish lawyer Per Samuelsson told AAP. <\/p>\n
\"The Court of Appeal, so to speak, warns the prosecutor 'If you don't go now we will cancel the custody decision the next time'. <\/p>\n
\"That's how you can interpret it.\" <\/p>\n
Mr Samuelsson said the court was \"cowardly\" not to cancel the detention order outright but hopes the Supreme Court will act in due course. <\/p>\n
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