The Swedish prosecutor heading a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against Julian Assange has said she is preparing a new application to interview him at Ecuador’s embassy in London.

Last week a United Nations panel report said Assange’s stay at the embassy amounted to arbitrary detention.

Sweden’s prosecution authority said: “The prosecutor in charge, chief prosecutor Marianne Ny, is currently working on a new application to interview Julian Assange in Ecuador’s embassy in London.”

Ny said: “In relation to the report which was released last week, I can state that it does not change my earlier assessment in the preliminary investigation.”

Assange, 44, took refuge at the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over an allegation that he committed rape in 2010. He denies the allegation.