Assange embassy exit likely after Sweden drops rape probe

Swedish prosecutors say they are closing their investigation of rape allegations against Julian Assange, and will not renew a European arrest warrant, clearing the way for the WikiLeaks founder to leave the Ecuadorean embassy in London.

Assange, an Australian citizen, jumped bail before he was due to appear before an English court to answer the European arrest warrant, and sought asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he has been holed up for nearly five years.

He has consistently claimed that if he was sent to Sweden, the US authorities would step in and have him extradited over what they claim is his role in the release of more than 20,000 classified documents by former intelligent analyst Chelsea Manning, who was sentenced to 45 years in jail. Manning was pardoned by former President Barack Obama after serving seven years and released this week.