This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37972528
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Assange faces Sweden 'rape' questions in Ecuadorean embassy | Assange faces Sweden 'rape' questions in Ecuadorean embassy |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sweden's chief prosecutor is questioning WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about a rape allegation at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. | Sweden's chief prosecutor is questioning WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about a rape allegation at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. |
| He denies the allegation that he raped a Swedish woman in 2010. | He denies the allegation that he raped a Swedish woman in 2010. |
| Swedish prosecutor Ingrid Isgren is listening as an Ecuadorean prosecutor puts the questions to Mr Assange. | Swedish prosecutor Ingrid Isgren is listening as an Ecuadorean prosecutor puts the questions to Mr Assange. |
| He took refuge in the embassy four years ago, fearing extradition. He says the sex was consensual and believes the allegations are politically motivated. | He took refuge in the embassy four years ago, fearing extradition. He says the sex was consensual and believes the allegations are politically motivated. |
| The accusations relate to a visit Mr Assange made to Stockholm in August 2010 to give a lecture. | The accusations relate to a visit Mr Assange made to Stockholm in August 2010 to give a lecture. |
| Q&A: Julian Assange and the law | Q&A: Julian Assange and the law |
| He has refused to travel to Sweden for questioning citing concerns he would be extradited to the US over WikiLeaks' release of 500,000 secret military files on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. However, lawyers argue that his extradition from Sweden would be even less likely than from the UK. | He has refused to travel to Sweden for questioning citing concerns he would be extradited to the US over WikiLeaks' release of 500,000 secret military files on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. However, lawyers argue that his extradition from Sweden would be even less likely than from the UK. |
| Mr Assange is accused of raping a woman, named in legal papers as SW, at her home in August 2010. | Mr Assange is accused of raping a woman, named in legal papers as SW, at her home in August 2010. |
| Swedish prosecutors dropped part of their investigation last year because of a statute of limitations. | Swedish prosecutors dropped part of their investigation last year because of a statute of limitations. |
| Deadlock broken - by Caroline Hawley, BBC News | Deadlock broken - by Caroline Hawley, BBC News |
| It's taken many months of tortuous diplomatic and legal exchanges just to get the Swedish prosecutor in the door. | It's taken many months of tortuous diplomatic and legal exchanges just to get the Swedish prosecutor in the door. |
| Under the agreement worked out with Ecuador, the Swedes were not allowed to question Julian Assange directly. Instead questions were to be submitted in Spanish and put to the WikiLeaks founder by an Ecuadorean prosecutor. | |
| No follow-up questions were allowed. | No follow-up questions were allowed. |
| This may explain why the Swedish prosecutor had been reluctant to question Julian Assange in London, insisting it would "lower the quality of the interview". She changed her mind in March 2015, a few months before lesser allegations made against Julian Assange had to be dropped because of a time limitation. | This may explain why the Swedish prosecutor had been reluctant to question Julian Assange in London, insisting it would "lower the quality of the interview". She changed her mind in March 2015, a few months before lesser allegations made against Julian Assange had to be dropped because of a time limitation. |
| At the embassy Mr Assange is beyond the reach of the UK authorities. Sweden has issued an arrest warrant for him, which he has appealed against. | At the embassy Mr Assange is beyond the reach of the UK authorities. Sweden has issued an arrest warrant for him, which he has appealed against. |
| Shortly after Ms Isgren entered the embassy, a cat - said to belong to Mr Assange - appeared at one of the windows and began watching the journalists and Assange supporters gathered outside. | Shortly after Ms Isgren entered the embassy, a cat - said to belong to Mr Assange - appeared at one of the windows and began watching the journalists and Assange supporters gathered outside. |
| The cat has its own Twitter feed, which says it lives with Mr Assange and is "interested in counter-purrveillance". | The cat has its own Twitter feed, which says it lives with Mr Assange and is "interested in counter-purrveillance". |
| Confidentiality | Confidentiality |
| A statement on behalf of the Swedish prosecutors, quoted by the Press Association, said the investigation would remain confidential, including the interview at the embassy. | A statement on behalf of the Swedish prosecutors, quoted by the Press Association, said the investigation would remain confidential, including the interview at the embassy. |
| "Therefore, the prosecutors cannot provide information concerning details of the investigation after the interview," it said. | "Therefore, the prosecutors cannot provide information concerning details of the investigation after the interview," it said. |
| One of Mr Assange's lawyers, Per Samuelson, said his client "is very happy that he finally will be given the opportunity to give his statement to the Swedish prosecution. | One of Mr Assange's lawyers, Per Samuelson, said his client "is very happy that he finally will be given the opportunity to give his statement to the Swedish prosecution. |
| "He has been waiting for this for over six years. He has prepared himself very carefully and will give a statement and will co-operate to the full extent." | "He has been waiting for this for over six years. He has prepared himself very carefully and will give a statement and will co-operate to the full extent." |