Swedish prosecutors bid to question Assange

Prosecutors from Sweden have submitted a formal request to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, asking his permission to question him in London where he has claimed asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy.

The prosecutor wants to quiz him and carry out DNA tests in connection with allegations of sexual assault and rape, which Assange denies.

The Australian has been hiding inside the South American country's UK embassy for almost three years, in fear of being extradited to Sweden.

He says he believes if he was sent to Sweden, he would then be extradited to the United States where he faces being tried for one of the biggest information leaks in the country's history through his website.

Assange's Swedish lawyer has reportedly welcomed the request to question him, but said he is concerned that the process could take some time, as both Britain and Ecuador will have to give their permission for the interview to take place.

Assange has previously offered to be interviewed inside the embassy, but Swedish authorities had refused until now.