Wikileaks founder Julian Asssange has had his appeal against extradition unanimously dismissed by the justices at the Supreme Court in the UK, making it look increasingly likely he will be extradited to Sweden.
The Supreme Court originally ruled that Assange should be extradited on 30 May 2012, but gave him 14 days to appeal.
Having considered the arguments put forward by his legal counsel, Dinah Rose QC, the justices have rejected the appeal and ruled the extradition can go ahead.
"[The] Court has ordered that, with the agreement of the respondent and pursuant to section 36(3)(b) of the Extradition Act 2003, the required period for extradition shall not commence until the 14th day after today."
It remains to be seen whether Assange will lodge an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
The Swedish authorities want to question Assange after allegations of rape and sexual molestation were brought against him by two women.
The original judgment had suggested Assange had been charged, but this will be amended to read "offences in respect of which his extradition is sought".
Assange has always maintained his innocence, claiming the allegations are politically motivated and there are no charges to answer to in Sweden.
He founded WikiLeaks in 2006 and since then it has became a notorious whistle-blowing website leaking confidential diplomatic cables.
