WikiLeaks founder Assange to fight US extradition bid in UK court

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to fight for his freedom in a British court after about 10 years of legal drama, as he challenges an attempt by the American authorities to extradite him on spying charges over the site's publication of secret US military documents.

Lawyers for Assange and the US government are scheduled to face-off in London on Monday at an extradition hearing that was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

US prosecutors have indicted the 49-year-old Australian on 18 espionage and computer misuse charges adding up to a maximum sentence of 175 years.

His lawyers say the prosecution is a politically motivated abuse of power that will stifle press freedom and put journalists at risk.

Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports from London, UK.

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