The mother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says she is distressed by news that international police agency Interpol has put out an alert for her son's arrest.

Interpol has alerted member states to arrest the 39-year-old Australian on suspicion of rape on the basis of a Swedish warrant.

Christine Assange, who lives in Queensland, says she is concerned for her son's welfare and does not want him "hunted down and jailed".

WikiLeaks is under intense pressure after its mass dump of sensitive US diplomatic cables, which US officials have denounced as a "a serious crime" and an attack on the whole world.

The warrant for Assange's arrest was issued by Sweden's International Public Prosecution Office in Gothenburg on November 18.

That warrant cites "probable cause of suspected rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion".

"There is a public 'Red Notice' on behalf of Sweden," an Interpol spokeswoman confirmed today.

The spokeswoman confirmed Interpol had posted Sweden's request for assistance in tracking down Assange on its website.

Assange, who was born in Townsville and whose current location is unclear, contested the warrant in a Swedish appeals court, but his first bid to get it thrown out was rejected last week and he has lodged a second appeal.

In the meantime, he could now face arrest and extradition to Sweden from anywhere in the world where local authorities decide to act on the warrant.

Today, Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, backtracked on an offer of residency to Assange, insisting no such invitation has been extended.

"There has been no formal offer to the director of WikiLeaks," Mr Correa told a news conference in the coastal city of Guayaquil.

"That was a personal remark by the deputy foreign minister; he did not have my authorisation."

Yesterday Ecuador had offered Assange residency with no questions asked.

"We are ready to give him residence in Ecuador, with no problems and no conditions," Deputy Foreign Minister Kintto Lucas told internet site Ecuadorinmediato.

"We are going to invite him to come to Ecuador so he can freely present the information he possesses and all the documentation, not just over the internet but in a variety of public forums."

- ABC/wires