Assange denies seeking asylum in France

THE defence team for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has denied he sought asylum in France after the Elysee Palace said it had declined such a request.

France has rejected an asylum request from WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange.

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange has not filed any request for asylum in France, his legal defence team says, following a statement from the Elysee Palace that such a request had been declined.

DEFENCE team director Baltasar Garzon said in a statement on Friday that an open letter written by Assange to French President Francois Hollande had only expressed his willingness "to be hosted in France if and only if an initiative was taken by the competent authorities".