WikiLeaks’ Assange May Gain From Swedish ‘Haste’ in Extradition

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Julian Assange, founder of the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, can avoid extradition from Britain to face questioning in a rape case if he proves Swedish authorities misused an international arrest warrant, lawyers say.

The process used to detain Assange in Britain is reserved for cases where prosecutors have already decided to charge someone, said Peter Watson, a lawyer with Allen & Overy LLP in London. Assange, 39, will challenge the warrant at the first “substantive” hearing in the case in a London court Feb. 7.