"There have been headlines all across the world that I am suspected of rape," he said.
The man, Lovelle Mixon, who was on parole from prison and suspected of rape, opened fire, killing both policemen.
Mr Assange is suspected of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion after encounters with two women during a visit to Sweden in August.
— Julian Assange "Assange is no longer suspected of rape but the charges against him concerning the [lesser] crime of molesting is still a fact".
One innocent 17-year-old -- the same age as Mr. Tankleff at the time of his arrest -- was suspected of rape.
Last year, Theresa May, the home secretary, told the Commons that since 2009 the EAW had been used to extradite from the UK 57 people suspected of child sex offences, 86 suspected of rape and 105 suspected of murder.
"The court considers that Julian Assange is still suspected of rape... and that there is still a risk that he will abscond or evade justice," it said in a statement.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority website said the chief prosecutor had come to the decision that Mr Assange was not suspected of rape but did not give any further explanation.
In Cleveland itself, a black man suspected of rape was forcibly taken from jail in June of 1897 and lynched before a crowd of 9,000 people.
The fiery-tempered former prosecutor said he once hurled a Chinese man suspected of rape and murder out of a helicopter.
