London, Nov 2 (IANS): WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has lost an appeal in a court in Britain against extradition to Sweden where he faces rape charges.

Assange, 40, had appealed in the high court against a European arrest warrant issued by Swedish prosecutors after rape and sexual assault accusations were made by two Swedish women following his visit to Stockholm in August 2010.

It now means that he could be removed to Sweden within 10 days, guardian.co.uk reported.

Assange has 14 days to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The WikiLeaks founder has been practically under house arrest in Norfolk since December 2010.

He has to sign in at a police station every day, wear an electronic tag and has to be back inside the house by 10 p.m. each night.

Swedish prosecutors say that Assange has been "detained in his absence on probable cause suspected of rape (less severe crime), sexual molestation and unlawful coercion".