Wikileaks founder Assange appeals for his release in UK

LONDON - ‘Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange, who was arrested in the London for sexually assaulting two women during his stay in Sweden, has reportedly appealed to the Westminster magistrates court to release him

The Guardian quoted Raj Joshi, a former head of the European and international division at the CPS, and an expert on extradition, as saying that the Crown Prosecution Service, which will represent the Swedish authorities in the UK court, has the right to appeal against any bail decision. In such a situation, even if the judge grants Assange bail, he could still be held.

“If they feel they have grounds for opposing bail, they would be duty bound to appeal that. He’ll be held pending the appeal, and until it is decided. That hearing is usually held within 48 hours,” he added.

The decision on whether to oppose bail will be made by the Swedish authorities, with Britain’s CPS merely representing their interests at tomorrow’s hearing, the paper said.

Speculation that the US could lodge an extradition request continued over the weekend, but it is regarded as highly unlikely that any such request would be lodged today.

Meanwhile, Sarah Ludford, the Liberal Democrat European justice and human rights spokeswoman, has claimed the arrest warrant system, which she said she supported, was being used by Sweden to carry out a fishing expedition. Sweden had yet to formally charge Assange with any offence.

The whistleblower website ‘Wikileaks’ had created a ‘hue and cry’ across the world last month over its release of secret US diplomatic cables. (ANI)