UPDATE - UK government approves extradition order for Julian Assange

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM CAMPAIGN GROUP, REVISES DECK

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - British Home Secretary Priti Patel has signed an order to extradite WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange to the US on Friday.

Assange’s extradition order was passed to the secretary by the UK courts last month, confirming that the US assurances on how Assange would be treated were sufficient for extradition.

Assange’s legal team is expected to file a cross-appeal against Patel’s decision.

“This is a dark day for Press freedom and for British democracy,” a statement from DontExtraditeAssange campaign group said in a statement.

“Anyone in this country who cares about freedom of expression should be deeply ashamed that the Home Secretary has approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States the country that plotted his assassination,” the statement said.

It added that Patel “will forever be remembered as an accomplice of the United States in its agenda to turn investigative journalism into a criminal enterprise.”

“Today is not the end of the fight,” the statement said.

“It is only the beginning of a new legal battle. We will appeal through the legal system; the next appeal will be before the High Court,” it added.