Assange Due in UK Court Over Swedish Extradition

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Assange Due in UK Court Over Swedish Extradition

By Olesya Dmitracova
LONDON | Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:47pm EST
(Reuters) - WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange is due to appear in a London court on Tuesday as lawyers draw the battle lines in his fight to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sex crimes.

The mainly procedural hearing at the top security Belmarsh Magistrates' Court, due to start at 1000 GMT (3 p.m. EST), is likely to confirm the date for a full extradition hearing which is expected in early February.

- snip -

"The hearing on Tuesday is to ensure that the real issues in the case are identified and that preparation of the case is progressing in a timely fashion," said a spokesman for Britain's courts service.

It will also decide elements of the legal process, such as which documents the prosecutors and defense lawyers should provide and whether any witnesses should be called up.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7096RQ20110110

[russspeakeasy]

1. I hope they give him a medal and send him home.

[defendandprotect]

2. Right wing violence distracting us from cables about right wing violence ... !!!

Sending positive thoughts to Assange -- !!

Trust one day we'll win over those who use violence to get what they want!

[glinda]

6. Top notch comment.

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[Pharaoh]

4. Keep Juliann Free!

It's called Journalism, what they are supposed to be doing.

[Matilda]

5. Wikileaks losing $620,000 a week.

"Whistleblower website WikiLeaks has been losing $620,000 a week since it began publishing confidential US cables, founder of the site Julian Assange said.

(snip)

"We have been losing more than 600,000 francs ($620,053) a week since the start of the publication of the diplomatic cables.

"To continue our business, we would need to find a way or other to get this money back."

There was no explanation of why Wikileaks was losing money with the publication, but several banks or payment systems have terminated business with the website in recent weeks.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/11/3110125.htm


I donated to Wikileaks through datacell in Switzerland the week the banks started cutting off his funds, and it went through. It's connected with a site in Finland, and it was an address in Reykjavik that showed up on my credit card statement. So if anybody wants to donate, it can still be done through the website.

[gateley]

7. This should be a thread of its own, if it isn't already. This is disturbing and

I can't help but think somehow the U.S.A. has dirty hands in it.

[bemildred]

8. There is no French Franc.

I mean there used to be, but now they use the Euro.

[Ghost Dog]

9. Refers to Swiss Franc, a very hard currency.

Wikileaks appears to run financial operations out of Switzerland still. But no doubt using private banking, rather than Swiss post office (for residents only) services now.

Switzerland for discretion; Iceland for freedom of speech; neither too inclined to bend over backwards under pressure, I would say.