Assange to appeal over extradition

The highest court in the UK has granted permission for Julian Assange to appeal against his extradition to Sweden, where he faces sex-crime allegations.

The Supreme Court said it would hear the appeal after the WikiLeaks founder raised a question on extradition law “of general public importance”. The two-day hearing will begin on 1 February, the court said.

The appeal will be heard by a panel of seven of the justices “given the great public importance of the issue raised, which is whether a prosecutor is a judicial authority”, a spokesman said.

He added: “The Supreme Court has today considered an application by Julian Assange for permission to appeal to the court, following the Divisional Court’s certification of a point of law of general public importance.”