Britain has received a European arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is wanted in Sweden on rape allegations, the British media reported on Monday.
Assange, who has been lying low since his website began releasing a huge number of confidential U.S. government documents to the public, is believed to be in the London area.
The Serious Organised Crime Agency is currently processing the warrant, which it will later send to the Metropolitan Police.
The news follows strong criticism from the British government over cables published by Wikileaks on Monday that identify a list of important strategic facilities across the world, including pipelines, and communication and transport hubs.
The British government said a number of the facilities mentioned are vital to British security and could now become targets for terrorist attacks.
A court in Stockholm approved a prosecution request in November to detain the 39-year old Australian, who is accused of rape and sexual harassment. On November 20, Interpol circulated a red notice, or international wanted persons alert, for Assange to all 188 member countries of the organization.
Assange's attorney Mark Stevens said Scotland Yard initially dismissed the order for violating legal norms, but that the British authorities had now received all the necessary documents to make an arrest.
Meanwhile, the Swiss post office bank, PostFinance, froze Assange's accounts, claiming he had "provided false information regarding his place of residence".
The Whistleblowing website said the accounts included a defense fund and personal assets of 31,000 euros.
LONDON, December 6 (RIA Novosti)
