Sweden Rejects Assange’s Appeal to Drop Arrest Warrant

The Supreme Court of Sweden has rejected Julian Assange's appeal to drop the arrest warrant in his name over alleged sexual assaults.

A warrant was issued in 2010 when two Swedish women made claims of rape and sexual assault against Assange.

The WikiLeaks founder has maintained the encounters were consensual and fears that if he is extradited to Sweden, he would then be extradited again to the US.

The court however supported the decision to uphold the detention order.

"The Supreme Court notes that investigators have begun efforts to question Julian Assange in London. The Supreme Court finds no reason to lift the arrest warrant," the court said.

One of the five judges however argued that the order could be lifted.

Assange's lawyer Per Samuelson told Reuters, "We are of course disappointed, and critical of the Supreme Court's way of handling the case," "This decision has been taken without letting us close our argument."

The 43 year old Australian fears that if he is eventually extradited to the US, he would be tried for one of the largest leaks in the country's history.

Assange's website WikiLeaks released over 500,000 military files and 250,000 diplomatic cables in 2010.