Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange before July

Swedish prosecutors want to interview Julian Assange over accusations of the sexual assault of two women before the end of July.

The authorities in Stockholm have already agreed that the questioning can take place in Ecuador’s embassy in London, where Assange has taken refuge amid what he describes as politically-motivated accusations.

The prosecutors have submitted a request for legal assistance to the English authorities and a request to Ecuador for permission to interview Assange during those two months, the prosecutor said in a statement.

The 43-year-old Australian has been in the embassy building since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of sexual assault against two women in 2010. He denies the accusations.

Prosecutors first insisted Assange should travel to Sweden for questioning, but in a U-turn in March agreed to conduct the interview in London.