ASSANGE WINS BID TO APPEAL EXTRADITION

Wife hails High Court ruling, accusing America of 'putting lipstick on a pig'

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange can appeal against extradition to the US on spying charges, the High Court has ruled.

The 52-year-old is charged with 17 counts of espionage and one of computer misuse over his website's publication of classified American military documents.

But judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson said extradition would go against the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects free speech and the media.

Mr Assange's supporters cheered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London as news of the decision reached them.