A fresh European Arrest Warrant has been issued by the authorities in Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over claims of sexual assault.
Mark Stephens, who represents the 39-year-old Australian former computer hacker, said he would fight any move to extradite his client.
But the move means there is no longer any legal impediment to holding Mr Assange and making him appear before City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Assange is believed to be in hiding in south-east England as the latest publications on his whistle-blowing website fuel global uproar.
Prosecutors in Sweden issued a warrant for his arrest last month but it could not be enforced because of a technical blunder.
The Australian's details were also added to Interpol's most wanted website after a red notice was issued, alerting police worldwide to his outlaw status.
Full story: WikiLeaks: net closes on Julian Assange as Scotland Yard receive full arrest papers – Telegraph