Prosecutors in Sweden say they have dropped their investigation into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
They said the evidence has "weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question".
Swedish authorities had been investigating allegations that Mr Assange had committed sexual offences in the country in 2010.
The WikiLeaks founder spent almost seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.
He was ultimately arrested at embassy in April, and is currently serving a 50-week sentence for breaching jail conditions.
Earlier this year, Swedish authorities reopened their investigation into the rape allegation against Mr Assange.
In a statement today, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Eva-Marie Persson confirmed officials have again decided to "discontinue their investigation".
She said: "I would like to emphasise that the injured party has submitted a credible and reliable version of events. Her statements have been coherent, extensive and detailed.
"However, my overall assessment is that the evidential situation has been weakened to such an extent that that there is no longer any reason to continue the investigation."
Earlier this year, a judge in the UK ruled that Mr Assange will face a full extradition hearing in February.
The five-day process will decide whether Mr Assange will be sent to the US, where he faces computer hacking allegations.
Authorities in the US claim thousands of secret and classified documents published on the WikiLeaks website “risked serious harm” to US national security.
Lawyers for Mr Assange have labelled the charges against him a "threat" to all journalists.
In a statement after today's decision by Swedish prosecutors, Kristinn Hrafnsson - WikiLeaks editor-in-chief - said: “Sweden has dropped its preliminary investigation into Mr Assange for the third time, after reopening it without any new evidence or information.
"Let us now focus on the threat Mr Assange has been warning about for years: the belligerent prosecution of the United States and the threat it poses to the First Amendment.”
