Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been questioned over a sex allegation at the Ecuadorian embassy in central London.

Swedish chief prosecutor Ingrid Isgren was due to be present while Mr Assange was interviewed by an Ecuadorian government official.

Prior to the interview, Ms Isgren said a DNA sample would be taken from Mr Assange, provided he gave his consent.

Now the meeting has finished, Ecuador is due to provide Swedish prosecutors with a written statement.

Mr Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador and has been living inside the embassy in Knightsbridge for more than four years, despite being wanted in Sweden over the allegation.


He is said to believe that if he leaves the embassy he will be extradited to the US and questioned over the activities of his controversial website.

Image: Swedish prosecutor Ingrid Isgren arrives at Eduador's embassy in London

Marianne Ny, director of prosecution in Sweden, would not comment on the investigation as it "is subject to confidentiality".

But she did say: "I welcome the fact that the investigation can now move forward via an interview with the suspect."

Ecuador's foreign minister, Guillaume Long, told the Press Association he was "pleased" with the development.

"This is something that Ecuador has been inviting the Swedish prosecutors to do ever since we granted asylum to Mr Assange in 2012," he said.

Ecuador had "never sought to stand in the way of any legal process in Sweden", Mr Long added.

"What we have asked from Sweden and the UK are guarantees that Mr Assange will not be extradited to a third country where he could be persecuted for his work as a journalist."

Image: Peter Tatchell (centre) with Julian Assange supporters

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said he hoped the questioning would lead to Mr Assange being freed.

"WikiLeaks and Julian Assange have performed an important public service in exposing government deception and human rights abuses," Mr Tatchell said.

"We have always said Julian Assange should answer the serious sex allegations but he has made it clear he is willing to answer the allegations."

Ms Isgren did not comment as she left the embassy at 1.30pm.

Mr Assange denies the allegation against him.