Assange lawyers go to court in bid to drop arrest warrant

LONDON – Lawyers for Julian Assange are asking a British court to drop an arrest warrant for the WikiLeaks founder.

Assange's attorney says the warrant no purpose because he is no longer wanted for questioning in Sweden over alleged sex offenses.

Swedish prosecutors dropped the case last year. But Assange still faces arrest if he leaves the embassy of Ecuador in London, where he has been holed up since 2012. He is wanted for jumping bail and taking refuge in the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Lawyer Mark Summers told Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday that the arrest warrant had "lost its purpose and its function."