Julian Assange loses appeal against extradition to Sweden

London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange lost appeal against extradition to Sweden on Tuesday. UK high court judges ruled that Assange should face accusations of rape in Sweden.

Assange can appeal in the Supreme Court against the order.

On the basis of this order, Assange could be removed to Sweden within 10 days.

Swedish authorities want to question Assange over the alleged rape of one woman and the molestation of another in Stockholm last year.

The 40-year-old has denied wrongdoing, and insisted the case is politically motivated by those opposed to the work of his secret-spilling organization.

Assange has 14 days to seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court if he believes there is a wider issue of "public importance" at stake in the decision.

If Assange is successful in persuading the high court of that, he is likely to remain on conditional bail until a hearing, which is unlikely to take place until next year.

Lawyers for Julian Assange said they will appeal High Court decision to approve his extradition to Sweden and have claimed the extradition would be unlawful.

Assange, an Australian national, was arrested in Britain in December last year.

Many have also raised concerns about a possible political motive behind the case and the extradition request, given the nature of the WikiLeaks' expose.

Assange's lawyers are worried he will then be extradited to the US - which has borne the brunt of the WikiLeaks exposed diplomatic cables which were put online.