The London High Court rejected an appeal on Wednesday by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange against his extradition to Sweden.
Australian-born Assange has the right to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court, the highest court of appeal in the U.K, if he believes there is a larger issue of “public importance.”
If the appeal is accepted, he could remain on bail until 2012, but if it is rejected he will be extradited to Sweden within ten days of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Assange’s defense team said they would decide on whether to appeal the ruling within two weeks.
His supporters gathered outside the court when the ruling was delivered, holding banners demanding “Free Assange,” the Press Association reported.
The 40-year-old founder of the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks was arrested in London last December on a warrant from Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on sex assault charges. Assange has consistently denied the accusations.
Swedish police have filed no formal charges against Assange.
A British court ruled in February that Assange should be extradited to Sweden, but the Wikileaks founder appealed the ruling, claiming he would not get a fair trial there.
