Legal process for WikiLeaks founder Assange

LONDON, UK: A British court begins a two-day hearing Monday on a Swedish request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face accusations of sex crimes.

Here are details of the legal moves against Assange:

Assange was arrested by British police on December 7 last year on a European warrant issued by Sweden over the allegations made by two Swedish WikiLeaks volunteers.

- On December 14 he was granted bail by the court on strict conditions if he posted a 200,000 pound ($322,200) bond. Swedish prosecutors appealed and he was ordered to stay in jail, but two days later London's High Court upheld the decision to grant him bail and he was released.

- The bail conditions require him to stay at an 18th century mansion in eastern England, abide by a curfew, report to police daily and wear an electronic tag.

- A two-day extradition hearing begins Monday at the high-security Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in southeast London.

- If Judge Howard Riddle is satisfied that Assange is wanted for the alleged crimes in question, that extradition would not breach his human rights and there are no other legal bars, then the court will order his extradition.

- In that case, Assange would have seven days to appeal. The appeal process at London's High Court must commence within 40 days, although the court can extend this period in the "interests of justice."

- Should the High Court uphold the extradition decision, a further appeal can be made to Britain's Supreme Court, the country's highest judicial body, but this can only be done on a point of law considered to be of general public interest. The Supreme Court ruling is the end of the process.

- If at any stage in the process the extradition is confirmed and there is no outstanding appeal, then Assange must be extradited within 10 days.