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Assange extradition case goes to Supreme Court Assange extradition case goes to Supreme Court
(40 minutes later)
The UK Supreme Court says that it will consider an appeal by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange against extradition to Sweden. The UK Supreme Court has said it will consider an appeal by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange against his extradition to Sweden.
The highest court said seven of its justices will consider the case in February. Britain's highest court said seven judges would hear the case in February.
Mr Assange is wanted for questioning in connection to allegations of sexual assault. Mr Assange, who remains on conditional bail in the UK, is wanted by Swedish authorities for questioning over allegations of sexual assault.
The High Court has approved his extradition - but Mr Assange argues that decision was unlawful. The 40-year-old Australian denies the allegations and claims they are politically motivated.
The High Court previously approved his extradition - but Mr Assange argues that decision was unlawful.
The Swedish authorities are seeking to put him on trial for the alleged rape of one woman and "sexually molesting and coercing" another in Stockholm in August 2010.
Wikileaks website published a mass of material from leaked diplomatic cables embarrassing several governments.
A US Army analyst suspected of leaking the documents, Bradley Manning, is due in an American court on Friday, where he faces 22 charges of obtaining and distributing government secrets.
'Great importance'
Earlier this month two High Court judges, Sir John Thomas and Mr Justice Ouseley, refused Mr Assange permission to appeal but they gave him 14 days to ask the Supreme Court justices to give a final UK ruling.
A Supreme Court spokesman said the judges had agreed to hear the case "given the great public importance of the issue raised, which is whether a prosecutor is a judicial authority".
He said: "A panel of three Supreme Court Justices - Lord Hope, Lord Mance and Lord Dyson - has considered the written submissions of the parties; this is the court's usual practice for considering applications for permission to appeal.
"The Supreme Court has granted permission to appeal and a hearing has been scheduled for two days, beginning on 1 February 2012."
The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement: "If, after the Supreme Court has heard the case, it dismisses Mr Assange's appeal, then his only further remedy is to apply immediately to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which will respond within 14 days.
"If it confirms that it does not agree to take the case then that is an end of the matter."
The CPS said if the court in Strasbourg did decline to take the case then Mr Assange would be extradited to Sweden as soon as practicable.