tattoo empek empek

?WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange began his appeal Tuesday against extradition to Sweden to face rape allegations, with his lawyer telling a British court the case against him was legally flawed.

The 40-year-old Australian appeared at the High Court in London seeking to overturn a lower court's rejection in February of defence arguments that he would have an unfair trial in Sweden.

Assange's lawyer, Ben Emmerson, said the conduct described in a European arrest warrant issued by Sweden "fails to provide a fair, proper and accurate description of what is alleged against the appellant."

He said Sweden was seeking his extradition for questioning over the claims of rape and sexual molestation by two women, "not for the purpose of prosecution".

One of the allegations on the warrant is of rape - that a woman he was in bed with woke up to him having unprotected sex with her.

But Emmerson said that once she discovered the situation, the woman consented, and the offence would not amount to rape in Britain.

Assange arrived at the central London court in a black car, declining to answer questions from a scrum of journalists.

A supporter yelled: "Keep fighting the American empire, Julian."

Former computer hacker Assange has been living under strict bail conditions, including wearing an electronic ankle tag and a curfew, at a friend's mansion in eastern England since December.

The hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday is taking place before two judges. A decision is expected to be deferred until a later date.

But Assange's Swedish lawyer, Bjorn Hurtig, said Tuesday there was a good chance the court will decide to extradite his client.

"I think there is a big risk he will come here," Bjoern Hurtig told Swedish public radio.

"I hope this is going to go as Julian wants but I believe the chances for change are fairly small," he said.

Assange's lawyers have signalled he is prepared for a lengthy legal battle and could take his challenge all the way to the Supreme Court.

Swedish authorities want to question him over the sex assault claims, although he has not been formally charged. He has claimed the allegations are politically motivated.

Assange has said his greatest fear was eventual extradition to the United States, where his lawyers argued he could be sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility or face the death penalty.