UK High Court to rule on Julian Assange bid to prevent US extradition

Britain's High Court is set to rule Monday on whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can take his fight against US extradition to the UK Supreme Court.

The decision is the latest step in Assange's long battle to avoid being sent to the United States to face espionage charges over WikiLeaks' publication of classified documents more than a decade ago.

Just over a year ago, a district court judge in London rejected a US extradition request on the grounds that Assange was likely to kill himself if held under harsh US prison conditions.

US authorities later provided assurances that the WikiLeaks founder would not face the severely restrictive conditions that his lawyers said would put his physical and mental health at risk.

Last month the High Court overturned the lower court's decision. High Court justices Ian Burnett and Timothy Holroyd said the American promises were enough to guarantee Assange would be treated humanely.

They said the US promises were solemn undertakings, offered