Assange refused bail by London court

PanARMENIAN.Net - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was refused bail by a London court on Tuesday, December 7 after Sweden issued a warrant for his arrest over allegations of sex crimes.

The 39-year-old Australian, who is at the center of a row over the release of secret US diplomatic cables, was arrested earlier on Tuesday by British police under a European Arrest Warrant after he appeared by appointment at a police station.

Assange, who denies the allegations, was remanded in custody until Dec. 14.

The United States said the arrest was “good news,” but the whistle blowing Web site vowed to press ahead with its publication of thousands of US diplomatic cables.

Britain’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that officers had arrested Assange “on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape.”

The charges stem from a dispute over consensual, unprotected sex with two women.

WikiLeaks itself has been chased around the globe since it started to release the US diplomatic memos on Nov. 28.

In a statement on Twitter, WikiLeaks said: “Today’s actions against our editor-in-chief Julian Assange won’t affect our operations: we will release more cables tonight as normal.”

If the courts rule he should be sent to Sweden, he would have seven days to appeal. If there is no appeal, he would be extradited within 10 days, AFP reported.