Assange defiant ahead of ruling

BRITAIN: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has complained about process abuse as British magistrates are about to make their final deliberations in the case to determine whether he should be extradited to Sweden.

Judges in Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court in southeast London Tuesday wrapped up a second day of a court hearing on Sweden’s request to extradite Assange, who is being sought in the Scandinavian country on criminal charges based on accusations of rape and molestation leveled against him by two women last year, AFP reported.

The judges are set to deliver their verdict on the extradition of the 39-year-old Australian on the third day of the court hearing on Wednesday morning.

In their efforts to dissuade the judges from issuing the extradition ruling, Assange’s lawyers have turned the spotlight on alleged flaws in the Swedish prosecutors’ case, saying they are deeply concerned that, if extradited to Sweden, their client would not receive a fair trial or be tried “behind closed doors.” Assange’s sympathizers and financial supporters have argued that like US Private Bradley Manning, who is charged with giving US military secrets to WikiLeaks.

Meanwhile, Assange himself chastised the Swedish prosecutor in charge of his case for her refusal to appear at the court hearing.

“What we’ve seen is process abuse after being revealed for hours and hours,” Assange said. Wednesday, Press TV