Assange arrested by British police (Third Lead)

LONDON - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested Tuesday by British police in connection with sexual assault claims made against him in Sweden, Scotland Yard said.

“Officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape,” a police statement said.

“Julian Assange, 39, was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant by appointment at a London police station at 9.30 a.m.,” it added.

His lawyers said earlier that Assange had agreed to speak with Scotland Yard officers following the receipt of a European Union arrest warrant Monday.

Assange is due to appear in court in London later Tuesday.

Assange’s WikiLeaks organisation has sparked daily headlines around the world with its leak of top secret US diplomatic cables, and previous leaks of Pentagon papers on the Iraq and Afghan conflicts.