France on Friday rejected a request for asylum by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, The Daily Mail reported.

Assange has been living for the past three years in Ecuador's London embassy, where he took refuge to avoid extradition to Sweden over alleged sex crimes.

"France has received the letter from Assange. An in-depth review shows that in view of the legal and material elements of Assange's situation, France cannot grant his request," a statement by President Francois Hollande's office said.

"The situation of Assange does not present any immediate danger. He is also the target of a European arrest mandate," it noted.