Swedish prosecutors have announced they are reopening an investigation into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Key points: Lawyers for a Swedish woman who alleges Assange raped her in 2010 pushed for the case to be reopened

Lawyers for a Swedish woman who alleges Assange raped her in 2010 pushed for the case to be reopened Assange denies the allegations and avoided extradition to Sweden after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London

Assange denies the allegations and avoided extradition to Sweden after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London He was arrested inside the embassy last month by UK police

The investigation was requested by lawyers for a Swedish woman who alleges Assange raped her in 2010.

Assange, who denies the allegations, previously avoided extradition to Sweden after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London for seven years.

Sweden's deputy director of public prosecutions, Eva-Marie Persson, told reporters through a translator that "there is still a probable cause to suspect that Assange committed a rape".

"The Swedish courts, on several occasions, have examined the detention issue and arrived at the conclusion that Mr Assange was suspected of rape on the 17th of August 2010 on probable cause, which is the higher degree of suspicion," she said.

"It is my assessment that a new questioning of Assange is required."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 2 seconds 1 m 2 s Ms Persson told reporters there was probable cause to suspect that Assange committed rape.

Loading

The original investigation was discontinued in May 2017.

Ms Persson said the case was not abandoned because of difficulties with the evidence, "but was instead entirely based on the circumstances at the time which prohibited the furtherance on the investigation".

"As Mr Assange is currently incarcerated in the United Kingdom, the circumstances now allow for an extradition to Sweden on the basis of a European arrest warrant," she said.

An opportunity to 'clear his name'

In a statement, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said "this investigation has been dropped before and its reopening will give Julian a chance to clear his name".

"This case has been mishandled throughout," he said.

"Since the investigation was closed in 2017, we have received reports of the destruction of records and correspondence on behalf of UK and Swedish authorities, surely an impediment to a thorough investigation.

"Assange was always willing to answer any questions from the Swedish authorities and repeatedly offered to do so, over six years.

"The widespread media assertion that Assange 'evaded' Swedish questioning is false."

Ms Persson said Assange's changed circumstances meant he could be extradited to Sweden ( ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )

Assange's Swedish lawyer Per E Samuelsen said he was "very much surprised" by the prosecutors' decision.

"When I came to the office today I was quite sure that they would not reopen [the case]," he said.

"And I'm also critical — I don't think this is proportionate towards Julian Assange.

"He is in a very difficult situation being in prison in the UK for 50 weeks, not having asylum any more, and an extradition application from the United States.

"So this is really to put burden on from the Swedish authorities, on a person who I think has suffered enough.

"This … 10-year-old story should have remained not reopened in my opinion."

Mr Samuelson said the case should not have been reopened. ( ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )

'Nobody is above the law'

Elisabeth Massi Fritz, the lawyer for the woman who made the complaint, said her client was "relieved" that the preliminary investigation would be reopened.

"She is very grateful, and also very hopeful that she'll be able to get redress," she said.

"Nobody is above the law, not even if your name happens to be Julian Assange."

Ms Fritz (right) speaks to reporters following the reopening of the case. ( ABC News: Lincoln Rothall )

Ms Fritz said Assange's decision to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years was "dreadful".

"No-one should be able to hide in the way Mr Assange has," she said.

"But we look to the future."

Assange, 47, is serving 50 weeks in prison in the UK for breaching his bail conditions after he was arrested at the embassy last month.

The United States also wants to extradite him from the UK over his alleged role in one of the largest leaks of classified military and diplomatic material in US history.