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| Julian Assange asks UK court to drop his arrest warrant | Julian Assange asks UK court to drop his arrest warrant |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Lawyers for Julian Assange are asking a London court to withdraw a UK warrant for his arrest, saying it has "lost its purpose". | Lawyers for Julian Assange are asking a London court to withdraw a UK warrant for his arrest, saying it has "lost its purpose". |
| The warrant was issued in 2012 after he allegedly breached bail conditions by seeking asylum in Ecuador's London embassy. | |
| He had been facing extradition to Sweden to answer sex assault claims but these have since been dropped. | He had been facing extradition to Sweden to answer sex assault claims but these have since been dropped. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service says Mr Assange could walk free if he succeeds. | The Crown Prosecution Service says Mr Assange could walk free if he succeeds. |
| Before the start of court proceedings, Mr Assange's lawyer Gareth Pierce told reporters the warrant should have "no status" because the proceedings in Sweden had come to an end. | |
| Earlier this month the UK government refused to grant the WikiLeaks founder diplomatic status and called on him to leave the embassy to "face justice". | Earlier this month the UK government refused to grant the WikiLeaks founder diplomatic status and called on him to leave the embassy to "face justice". |
| The offence of failing to surrender to bail carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. | |
| The UK has refused to guarantee that Mr Assange will not be extradited to the US if he leaves the embassy. | |
| In April 2017, US attorney general Jeff Sessions said arresting Julian Assange for releasing classified US information was a "priority". | In April 2017, US attorney general Jeff Sessions said arresting Julian Assange for releasing classified US information was a "priority". |
| The judge presiding over Mr Assange's appeal has said a judgment will not be made on Friday. |