Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Britain Refuses to Extradite 'Suicidal' WikiLeaks Founder to US

Henry Ridgwell

   LONDON - A British judge has ruled that Julian Assange, the founder of
   the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, cannot be extradited to the
   United States because of the risk he could commit suicide in U.S.
   detention.
   District Judge Vanessa Baraitser delivered the verdict Monday.

   "I am satisfied the procedures described by the U.S. will not prevent
   Mr. Assange from finding a way to commit suicide and for this reason I
   have decided extradition would be oppressive by reason of mental harm
   and I order his discharge," Baraitser told the court.
   Assange faces 18 U.S. federal charges relating to allegations of
   hacking, theft of classified material, and the disclosure of the
   identities of U.S. informants. Prosecutors have already appealed the
   verdict.

.