US lawyers lodge appeal against block on Julian Assange’s extradition

The US Government has formally lodged an appeal against the decision to block Julian Assange’s extradition. On January 4, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that the WikiLeaks founder should not to be sent to the US, citing a real risk of suicide. She went on to refuse the 49-year-old bail under strict conditions for fear he could abscond and deny prosecutors the chance to appeal. On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that the appeal had been lodged on Friday, days ahead of the two-week deadline. Prosecutors for the US Government have also been given a further two weeks to submit detailed grounds for appeal. A decision is likely to be made...