25 Feb 2011

Assange to be extradited to Sweden

2:05 am on 25 February 2011

A British court has approved the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Sweden, where he's accused of sex crimes.

Mr Assange is expected to appeal against the ruling reports the BBC. He denies three allegations of sexual assault and one of rape last August in Stockholm.

The 39-year-old says the claims are politically motivated because of the work of his whistle-blowing website which has made headlines worldwide with the publication of sensitive material from governments and high-profile organisations.

District judge Howard Riddle dismissed the argument that Mr Assange would not receive a fair trial in Sweden that had been made by his lawyers during the hearing earlier this month.