Assange ‘free to return home’ once legal challenges over

SYDNEY - Julian Assange is “free to return home” to Australia once legal challenges against him are dealt with, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, after a UK court denied a request to extradite the Wikileaks founder to the United States.

A British judge on Monday blocked the extradition request by the US, where Mr Assange was set to face criminal charges including breaking a spying law, saying his mental health problems meant he would be at risk of suicide.

US justice department said it would continue to seek Mr

Assange’s extradition with prosecutors set to appeal the ruling to London’s High Court.

“Well, the justice system is making its way and we’re not a party to that. And like any Australian, they’re offered consular support and should, you know, the appeal fail, obviously he would be able to return to Australia like any other Australian,” Mr Morrison told local radio station 2GB. “So, yes, it’s just a straightforward process of the legal system in the UK working its way through.”