The US wants to extradite the Australian whistleblower, who was arrested on April 11 after spending seven years in Ecuador's London embassy, to face charges of"conspiracy" for working with former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.faces an initial hearing in London on Thursday over an extradition request from the United States, a day after he was jailed for 50 weeks for jumping bail.
WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said on Wednesday that all efforts would now be focussed on preventing Assange’s extradition to the US.Assange’s supporters believe that more serious charges could be filed if he is transferred to the US, and he fears the death penalty. In a letter read out on his behalf, Assange expressed regret, saying: “I did what I thought at the time was the best or perhaps the only thing that I could have done.”Assange’s team is fighting his extradition and the process could take years.