Assange wins right to challenge US extradition

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange can bring a new appeal against extradition to the US, the High Court has ruled.

He was granted permission to appeal against the order that he be sent to the US to stand trial for leaking military secrets. The decision means Mr Assange will be able to challenge US assurances over how his prospective trial would be conducted and whether his right to free speech would be infringed. The 52-year-old’s lawyers hugged each other in court after the latest ruling in the legal saga. They have argued that the case against him - relating to the release of highly classified documents almost 15 years ago about alleged US war crimes - is politically motivated. The US argues that the Wikileaks files - which disclosed information about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars - endangered lives. In a short ruling on Monday morning, two senior judges granted him permission to appeal against an earlier order allowing his extradition to the US. They ruled that he needs to be given a full appeal in the UK.