The London Westminster Magistrates Court issued a formal extradition order to the United States for Julian Assange.

With the exception of a last-minute appeal to the High Court, it is now up to Interior Minister Priti Patel to give the final go-ahead for the activist's transfer to the United States. He has 28 days to speak, but the green light seems obvious given the relations between the US and Great Britain.

Assange in the US faces up to 175 years in prison for having contributed to disseminating confidential documents on war crimes committed by American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan: 18 charges are pending against him.

The extradition order against the Wikileaks founder was issued during a brief hearing, lasting only seven minutes, by Judge Paul Goldspring. "Put simply, I have a duty to send the case to the minister for a decision," said the magistrate. Assange was connected by videoconference from the London high-security prison in Belmarsh where he has been held for three years.

The possibility remains for Assange's lawyers of an appeal to the High Court of London. However, the chances of success are reduced to a minimum after the long legal process of the British judiciary.

Outside the Westminster court, some Wikileaks activists protested asking not to extradite Assange.

(Unioneonline / L)

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