KEY POINTS Sweden drops rape investigation against Julian AssangeAssange still in Ecuadorian embassy in LondonCase was dropped due to a lack of progress - prosecutorsPolice: Assange still wanted in UK for jumping bailSweden today announced it has decided to drop its investigation in to rape allegations made against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. WikiLeaks tweeted: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Swedish investigators had been expected to reveal today whether they would lift a Europe-wide arrest warrant against him in the seven-year-old case. Related Content WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange talks cats and other tame topics Pamela Anderson says she will always stand by Julian Assange US prepares charges to seek arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian AssangeHe has been holed up at the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 and risks being arrested by British police if he steps out of the building. Today was the deadline for the public prosecutor's office to either renew or lift Assange's arrest warrant before a Stockholm court.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 19, 2017 09:26 UTC