Ruling soon on Assange extradition

Lawyers for Assange had asked the UK’s highest court to block the move, claiming the European arrest warrant issued against was “invalid and unenforceable”.

A panel of seven Supreme Court judges, who heard the case in February, will give their judgment next Wednesday.

The Swedish authorities want Assange, 40, to answer accusations of raping one woman and sexually molesting and coercing another in Stockholm in August 2010 while on a visit to give a lecture. Assange, whose WikiLeaks website has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and international businesses, says the sex was consensual and the allegations against him are politically motivated.

Last November the High Court upheld a ruling by District Judge Howard Riddle in February 2011 that the Australian computer expert should be extradited to face investigation.