Sweden to issue international arrest warrant for Wikileaks’ spokesman

A month after he’s been denied a Swedish residence and work permit – most likely because of the rape and molestation accusations that have been been brought up against him by two Swedish women and then dropped – Julian Assange has more reason to curse the day he ever set his foot in that country.

According to CNET, the Swedish government has made known that those charges are back on and have been broadened to include sexual molestation and unlawful coercion, and that it would issue an international arrest warrant for the WikiLeaks spokesman.

“Our client has always maintained his innocence. The allegations against him are false and without basis,” says Assange’s London-based attorney. “Despite his right to silence, my client has repeatedly offered to be interviewed, first in Sweden before he left, and then subsequently in the UK (including at the Swedish Embassy), either in person or by telephone, videoconferencing or e-mail, and he has also offered to make a sworn statement on affidavit. All of these offers have been flatly refused…”

Assange’s whereabouts are currently unknown.