Sweden reopens rape investigation against Julian Assange

Swedish prosecutors on Monday reopened their investigation into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, who remains in prison in London for breach of bail conditions on the charge.

The 47-year-old denies the allegation and has avoided extradition to Sweden to face the charge for seven years after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London in 2012.

He is currently being held at the high security Belmarsh prison since Ecuador withdrew asylum last month after which he was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for failure to surrender to meet his bail conditions.

The Swedish authorities had originally decided to drop the rape investigation two years ago, saying they felt unable to take the case forward while Assange remained holed up inside the Ecuadorean embassy.

"I have today taken the decision to reopen the prelminary investigation, Eva-Marie Persson, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, told reporters on Monday.

A lawyer for one of the women involved in ..