WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been ordered to surrender himself to British police by Friday morning. Assange violated his house arrest to seek political asylum inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London last week. He is hoping to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning for alleged sex crimes.

His fear is that from Sweden he could be extradited to the United States, where he could be charged and convicted under the Espionage Act for publishing classified government documents, which carries a possible death penalty.

Ecuador is still considering Assange’s application for asylum.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly

The Guardian:

A spokesman for the Metropolitan police service said: “The MPS have this morning, Thursday 28 June, served a surrender notice upon a 40-year-old man that requires him to attend a police station at a date and time of our choosing. This is standard practice in extradition cases and is the first step in the removal process.”

He said Assange remained in breach of his bail conditions, adding: “Failing to surrender would be a further breach of conditions and he is liable to arrest.”

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