Assange wins right to challenge US extradition

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange can bring a new appeal against extradition to the US, the High Court has ruled. He was granted permission to appeal against the order that he be sent to the US to stand trial for leaking military secrets. The decision means Mr Assange will be able to challenge US assurances over how his prospective trial would be conducted and whether his right to free speech would be infringed. Mr Assange’s lawyers hugged each other in court after this latest ruling in the legal saga. They have argued that the case against him is politically motivated. In a short ruling this morning, two senior judges granted him permission to appeal against an earlier order, ruling that he needs to be given a full appeal in the UK. Mr Assange has resisted extradition from the UK for more than a decade, after his Wikileaks website published thousands of confidential US documents in 2010 and 2011. Stella Assange says it is a "decisive" day in legal battle Biden considering Australian request to drop Julian Assange charges US must make Assange freedom of speech and death penalty assurances, judges rule Why Wikileaks' Julian Assange faces US extradition demand Mr Assange, who is currently in Belmarsh Prison, will now have a number of months to prepare his appeal, which will concern whether or not the US courts will protect his right to free speech as an Australian citizen. He argues that his disclosures in 2010 revealed war crimes by the US. Prosecutors say the revelations endangered lives. Supporters of Mr Assange cheered as news of the decision filtered out of the court room. It means he will remain in the UK for now. Earlier on Monday, the 52-year-old’s wife Stella Assange told the BBC that it would be a "decisive" day in the protracted legal battle. Ms Assange added that she would "fight on until Julian is free", whatever the judges ruled.