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U.K. court: Assange can be extradited

The WikiLeaks editor can be extradited to Sweden under a European arrest warrant to face sex crime-related charges.

Tom Espiner Special to CNET News
Julian Assange in England in December 2010.
Julian Assange in England in December 2010. Screenshot by Jonathan Skillings/CNET

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden to face questioning about allegations that he committed sex crimes, the U.K. Supreme Court has ruled.

Six law lords today said that the WikiLeaks editor can be extradited to Sweden under a European arrest warrant, as requested by Swedish prosecutors. Assange was not present to hear the London court's ruling.

"The request for Mr. Assange's extradition has been lawfully made, and his appeal has been dismissed," said Supreme Court president Lord Phillips as he handed down the court's decision.

The decision was not unanimous, with the law lords being split 5-2.

Read more of "Assange loses extradition battle in Supreme Court" at ZDNet UK.