WikiLeaks founder to appeal Swedish detention order

The founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, was Friday to appeal a Swedish court decision to detain him as part of a probe into alleged rape, DPA reported.

Assange's lawyer Bjorn Hurtig told Swedish radio he would file the appeal later Friday, the day after the Stockholm district court ruling.

Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny has said Assange is suspected of "rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion."

The detention request was made in order "to interrogate him. So far, we have not been able to meet with him to accomplish the interrogations," Ny said.

The court ruling will allow prosecutors to seek assistance from other countries to have him arrested.

Hurtig has declined to discuss Assange's whereabouts. Assange was not present at Thursday's closed door hearing.

The investigation followed complaints made by two women in August, when Assange was in Sweden for the publication of thousands of leaked Pentagon war papers relating to the Afghan conflict.

Ny decided in September to resume the probe into Assange.

Assange said earlier this month WikiLeaks was considering establishing a base in Switzerland.