WikiLeaks' Assange gets chance to take extradition case to UK's top court

Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, January 24, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) -WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday was given the chance to challenge at Britain's highest court a decision allowing him to be extradited to the United States to face 18 criminal charges including breaking a spying law.

U.S. authorities want Australian-born Assange, 50, currently in jail in London as he awaits a ruling on his extradition, to face trial on 18 counts relating to WikiLeaks’ release of vast troves of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables which they said had put lives in danger.