Assange risks death penalty in US, say lawyers

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange will argue he should not be extradited from Britain to Sweden over alleged sex crimes because he could end up in the United States facing the death penalty, his lawyers said.

The 39-year-old Australian computer expert, who has infuriated Washington by releasing details of secret US diplomatic cables on his website, is wanted for questioning by Sweden over allegations of sexual offences made by two WikiLeaks volunteers.

Following his brief appearance in a London court yesterday, lawyers published an outline of the defence he will use at a full extradition hearing next month, in which they said Assange faced possible execution in the US.