Swedish appeals court to rule on Assange detention Friday

STOCKHOLM – A Swedish appeals court said Monday that it would rule at week’s end on whether to rescind the detention order against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Later in the day, the prosecutor’s office in Ecuador said Assange would be questioned next month at his country’s embassy in London, where Assange sought shelter four years ago.

Assange is wanted by Swedish prosecutors in a rape investigation that stems from his visit to the country in 2010. He denies the allegations and has asked Swedish courts to repeal the detention order with which prosecutors sought his extradition from Britain.

A lower court dismissed his request in May. The Svea Appeals court said it will issue its ruling on Assange’s appeal on Friday.

In Ecuador’s capital, the prosecutor’s office issued a statement saying Ecuadorean prosecutor Wilson Toainga would question Assange at the embassy on Oct. 17 on behalf of Swedish prosecutors. He will interrogate Assange based on questions submitted by Swedish prosecutors and will seek to take “body fluid samples,” which under Ecuadorean law can only take place with Assange’s consent.

The statement said two Swedish officials would be present during the questioning.