Women who accused Assange of rape 'are WikiLeaks fans'

Melbourne, Dec 25 (ANI): The lawyer for women who accused Julian Assange of sexual misconduct said they are supporters of WikiLeaks.

"He's been spreading false rumours that he knows are untrue. It's reckless against these two women. They, too, are supporters of WikiLeaks. They support its work," News.com.au quoted Claes Borgstrom as saying.

Assange, who hasn't been charged with rape yet, has denied the allegations.

Borgstrom said he had every right to do so, but says Assange is, in essence, accusing them of breaking the law by suggesting they are driven by ulterior motives.he Times recently quoted Assange as saying that there is "very suggestive evidence" the two women were motivated by revenge, money and police pressure.

A chief prosecutor in Stockholm dropped the rape complaint shortly after the case began but Borgstrom successfully appealed the decision to a more senior prosecutor who restarted the investigation.

Assange is now out on bail in Britain, fighting his extradition to Sweden.

Borgstrom refused to reveal who's decision it was to appeal - his or the women's.

"I had read the police reports. I had seen my clients and heard their stories. In my opinion, it was rape and attempted rape or sexual molestation," he said. (ANI)