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UK has obligation to extradite Assange: spokesman

Xinhua, February 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Julian Assange will be likely to extradited to Sweden to face allegation of rape even though a United Nations panel has concluded the Wikileaks founder is being "arbitrarily detained" in London, a UK government spokesman said.

The spokesman said Assange still faced one allegation of rape, while a European Arrest Warrant remained in place.

"We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," he was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"The UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden."

Assange claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex assault claims, which he denies.

The Met Police said Assange will be arrested if he leaves the embassy.

Assange said earlier on Twitter: "I will accept arrest by British police on Friday if UN rules against me."

In 2014, Assange complained to the UN that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as he could not leave the embassy without being arrested. Endit