Assange loses bid to see warrant overturned

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange yesterday lost his legal battle to overturn a British arrest warrant against him, and with it his hopes of freely leaving Ecuador’s London embassy where he has been holed up since 2012.

In a court in the British capital, Judge Emma Arbuthnot rejected his lawyers’ argument that upholding the warrant was no longer in the public interest.

“I find arrest is a proportionate response even though Mr Assange has restricted his own freedom for a number of years,” she said.

Assange was awaiting extradition to Sweden over a 2010 investigation into claims of rape and sexual assault when he breached his bail conditions to seek refuge in the embassy. Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but the British warrant for his arrest for jumping bail remains, meaning he would be detained as soon as he steps outside.

The judge rejected claims that Assange was suffering from his confinement, saying: “Mr Assange’s health problems could be much worse.”

She had last week rejected claims by Assange’s team that the warrant was rendered null-andvoid because there was no longer any underlying crime.

Assange says he fears his arrest could lead to his extradition to the United States overWikiLeaks’ publication of secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010.

Gareth Peirce, one of Assange’s lawyers, told AFP it would be possible to appeal against the judge’s decision, but she said this had not yet been decided.