US wins British court appeal paving way for Assange extradition

For his supporters, Assange is a fearless campaigner for press freedom. For others, he was reckless with classified information and possibly endangered sources

The US government won an appeal Friday against a UK court ruling that had blocked extraditing Julian Assange, paving the way for the WikiLeaks founder to be sent from Britain. 

The decision by the High Court in London could now see the extradition referred to interior minister Priti Patel for final approval, but Assange's legal team immediately said it will ask the UK Supreme Court to intervene.

Washington wants Assange to face trial for WikiLeaks' publication in 2010 of classified military documents relating to its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

They also pointed to diplomatic assurances provided since the January decision that Assange would not be held in punishing isolation at a federal supermax prison, and would receive appropriate care.

- 'Satisfied' -

He added the High Court was satisfied they ensured Assange would not face "special measures" in the US, would "receive appropriate clinical and psychological treatment" and be eligible for transfer to Australia if convicted.

The two-judge ruling ordered that the case be returned to the magistrates' court with a direction it be sent to Patel for a final determination on extraditing Assange.

However, Assange's partner Stella Moris said they would "appeal this decision at the earliest possible moment", calling it a "grave miscarriage of justice".

Birnberg Peirce Solicitors, which represent Assange, said in a statement that "his lawyers will be seeking permission to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court", noting they have 14 days to do so. 

The long-running case has become a cause celebre for free speech, with Assange's supporters arguing WikiLeaks has the same rights as other media to publish secret material in the public interest.

"This goes to the fundamentals of press freedom and democracy," she said, accusing Britain of acting on behalf of a foreign power.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called it "a political case against a journalist and public figure -- another manifestation of the cannibalistic worldview of the Anglo-Saxon alliance".

Pro-Assange supporters gathered outside the court, waving placards and demanding his immediate release.

He could be jailed for up to 175 years in the US, although the exact sentence is difficult to estimate.

The maverick publisher spent seven years at Ecuador's embassy in London to avoid being removed to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations that were later dropped.

British prison authorities last month gave the couple permission to marry at Belmarsh prison in southeast London.

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