UK arrest warrant against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange still valid

A UK warrant to arrest Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is still valid, a court has ruled, but his lawyers are arguing it should be dropped.

They said Mr Assange was willing to face UK justice "but not at the expense of facing injustice" in the US, where he fears he will be extradited to. The warrant was issued in 2012 after Mr Assange failed to answer bail over sex assault charges in Sweden, now dropped. He instead sought asylum in Ecuador's embassy, where he has remained since. The case, heard at Westminster Magistrates' Court, was adjourned until 13 February.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Assange's legal representative, Jennifer Robinson, said his lawyers would "continue to seek assurances that the UK does not have a US extradition warrant and will let him leave the country freely and without interference". She added: "We must confront the real issue in this case: if Julian Assange walks out of the embassy today he risks facing extradition to the US to face prosecution for publishing information in the public interest with Wikileaks." Mr Assange had been facing extradition to Sweden when he sought asylum at the London embassy in 2012. The Swedish investigation was dropped in May 2017 but Mr Assange remained in the embassy.