Assange can be extradited to Sweden: British judge

LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden to face rape and sexual assault allegations, a British judge ruled Thursday.

"I must order that Mr Assange be extradited to Sweden," judge Howard Riddle said in a decision at Belmarsh Magistrates Court in southeast London, following an extradition hearing earlier this month.

Lawyers for the 39-year-old Australian, who was detained in Britain on a Swedish arrest warrant in December, said earlier that they would appeal if the decision went against their client.