Andrew Drummond, AAP London Correspondent, AAP
Updated December 6, 2011, 6:37 am
•Extradition fight goes on
Julian Assange has scored a rare win in his battle against extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges.
Almost a year and countless court appearances after Julian Assange's arrest, the WikiLeaks chief will continue to fight extradition as another avenue of appeal opens.
Wednesday will mark 12 months since Assange's arrest by Scotland Yard officers over allegations that he sexually assaulted two women in Stockholm in August 2010.
The claims are denied by the Australian who is fighting extradition to Sweden, and on Monday two High Court judges found that a higher legal jurisdiction should have the final word on Assange's case.
A point of "general public importance" was considered strong enough by judges Roger John Thomas and Justice Duncan Ouseley for Assange to take his matter to Britain's Supreme Court.
Although the same judges in November ruled that Assange should be taken to Sweden for questioning, on Monday they allowed him 14 days to lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court, which the 40-year-old's lawyers say will occur.
"The High Court has decided that an issue that arises from my own case is of general public importance and may be of assistance in other cases and should be heard at the Supreme Court," Assange said following the hearing on Monday.
"I think this is the right decision and I am thankful. The long struggle for justice for me and for others continues."
If extradited to Sweden Assange fears he will end up in the United States where his secret-leaking website is under investigation for releasing thousands of secret government cables.
Observing proceedings in court on Monday was West Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam who is concerned for Assange's safety should he be taken to the US.
"I've travelled to London at my own expense to attend the hearing, to meet Mr Assange, to meet his legal team and effectively to represent millions of Australians who are very concerned that the Australian government hasn't done enough in defence of a citizen in major legal trouble, and effectively I will now travel to Sweden because I am very concerned that if he is extradited to Sweden that he will very shortly find himself on his way to the United States," Sen Ludlam told AAP.
"I've got very grave concerns for Mr Assange's safety if he does end up in the United States."
Senator Ludlam met with Assange on Sunday and said his treatment by the Australian government including the prime minister and attorney-general has been "disgraceful".
"We're asking the Australian government to step up its efforts to make sure that Mr Assange is returned to Australia and under no circumstances is he rendered to the United States," said the Greens communications spokesman.
The senator will travel to Stockholm to speak with Swedish justice authorities and Australian consular officials to "get a sense of what the conditions will be if he's sent on to Sweden".
"I will also be asking whether there is some agreement with the United States government. I suspect they will deny any knowledge of that sort of thing, but I think that's what we need to focus on, not so much the case of getting him to Sweden but what happens after that," he said.
A lawyer representing the two Swedish women making claims against Assange said Monday's decision was regrettable and that the pair have been waiting a long time for the matter to be resolved.
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