France rejects asylum request of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

PARIS - France on Friday rejected the asylum request, or more exactly of "protection", of the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, who had sought on Thursday in a letter to French President Francois Hollande, according to the statement of the Elysee.

"France has received the letter from Mr Assange. After a thorough examination of the legal elements and the material situation of Mr. Assange, France can not act on his request," said the French Presidency in a statement.

"The situation of Mr Assange poses no immediate danger. It is also the subject of a European arrest warrant," the document concluded.

In a six-page letter sent Thursday Francois Hollande, Julian Assange asked France to grant him political asylum.

In his letter, the founder of WikiLeaks asked France to "provide the necessary protection against, and only against the political persecution that (he is) now the subject," saying that "only France (could) provide (him) the necessary protection. "

Assange, 44, has been reportedly living for three years in the premises of the Embassy of Ecuador in London as a refugee.

French newspaper Le Monde said what "prevented Mr. Assange to leave the embassy" is his failure to present before the Swedish court that wishes "to hear as a witness" after "complaints in Sweden by two women, who accused him of rape and sexual assault." It is for this reason that Assange is the subject of a European arrest warrant.