DHAKA: Swedish prosecutors have offered to travel to London to question Wikileaks founder Julian Assange over sex assault allegations.

Sweden sought Assange’s arrest in 2010. Prosecutors had previously insisted on questioning him in Sweden.

Assange denies the assault claims and has been living at the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012, reports the BBC.

He fears that if he is sent to Sweden he could then be extradited to the US to face charges over leaking material.

A lawyer for Assange, Per Samuelson, welcomed the move. “This is something we’ve demanded for over four years,” he said.

A Swedish prosecutor explained the change of strategy by saying potential charges against Assange would expire under the statute of limitations in August.

“My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorean embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview, and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future,” lead prosecutor Marianne Ny said in a statement.

BDST: 1755 HRS, MAR 13, 2015