Assange’s legal team argued in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 26 that a UK arrest warrant for Assange should be dropped. British prosecutors told Judge Emma Arbuthnot the UK arrest warrant must stand because Assange shouldn’t be rewarded for having outlasted Swedish authorities, which dropped the case after concluding there was no reasonable hope of bringing him to Sweden to answer questions. British officials would be expected to take Assange into custody if there’s a US indictment and extradition request. Ecuador has tried unsuccessfully to persuade British officials to give Assange diplomatic status. Assange would still face arrest for jumping bail, although British police no longer maintain a round-the-clock security presence outside the embassy.

Source: Egypt Independent February 05, 2018 12:00 UTC