A judge upheld a British arrest warrant for Julian Assange on Tuesday, saying the WikiLeaks founder should have the courage to come to court and face justice after more than five years inside Ecuador’s London embassy. Swedish prosecutors dropped their investigation last year, saying there was no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden in the foreseeable future. But the British warrant for violating bail conditions still stands, and Assange faces arrest if he leaves the embassy. Assange’s lawyers had asked for the UK warrant to be withdrawn since Sweden no longer wants him extradited, but the judge rejected their request last week. Outside the courtroom, Assange lawyer Gareth Peirce gave little indication of what might come next in the twisting legal saga.

Source: Egypt Independent February 13, 2018 16:30 UTC