WikiLeaks Founder Denied Swedish Residency

"We took the decision to reject his application. He has received notice today [Monday] in [the] mail," Migration Board spokeswoman Gunilla Wikstrom told the newspaper.

Australian-born Assange, 39, filed for a residency permit in Sweden earlier this year.

WikiLeaks stores some of its servers in Sweden, and Assange has spoken in the past about the advantages that the country's liberal freedom of information laws afford to whistleblowers.

Wikstrom did not elaborate on the reasons for the rejection of Assange's application.

WikiLeaks provided an internet link to the Aftonbladet article on its Twitter page Monday, however the organization did not post a comment about the article, or the decision.

The decision to deny Assange residency comes as WikiLeaks prepares to release hundreds of thousands of secret military files on the war in Iraq.