Swedish High Court refuses Wikileaks founder appeal

Sweden's highest court has refused permission to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to appeal against an arrest order issued over alleged sexual crimes, the court said on Thursday.

Sweden's highest court has refused permission to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to appeal against an arrest order issued over alleged sexual crimes, the court said on Thursday.

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Assange's lawyer had this week appealed against an arrest warrant, which has also led to an Interpol notice. Assange has denied the allegations. The court decision means the domestic and international arrest warrants still stand.

"The High Court has not granted a leave to appeal, so the the Svea Court of Appeals ruling still stands," High Court official Kerstin Norman said.

It is not known where Assange is, but Britain's The Independent newspaper reported on Thursday that it was believed that he was in southeast England.