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15:38 GMT
PARIS, July 3 (KUNA) -- French President Francois Hollande on Friday confirmed he had personally received an asylum request from the founder of Wikileaks whistleblowing service Julian Assange but that he was refusing the request.
The French Presidency said in a statement that Hollande had reviewed the "material situation and the juridical elements" of the Assange case and decided he could not give a positive response for asylum.
Assange is currently holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and has been unable to leave that building for almost three years.
Hollande also remarked in the statement that Assange does not appear "in immediate danger" and he is also wanted by a European arrest warrant.
The Australian national is wanted for questioning on sexual assault allegations in Sweden where he was based for some time.
Wikileaks caused a major upheaval several years ago after revealing confidential and secret and top secret diplomatic cables sent by a number of governments, causing embarrassment over the breach of secrecy and some of the cables' content. (end)
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