Australia wants Sweden to make sure WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gets a fair hearing if he's extradited from Britain to face charges of sexual misconduct in Sweden.
The Australian ambassador to Sweden, Paul Stephens, made the appeal in a letter to the Scandinavian country's justice minister as the 39-year-old Australian fought extradition in a London court.
"I wish to convey the Australian government's expectation that, should Mr Assange be brought into Swedish jurisdiction, his case would proceed in accordance with due process," Stephens wrote in the February 10 letter obtained on Friday by AP.
Stephens said Swedish authorities must also respect "applicable European and international laws, including relevant human rights norms".
Assange is wanted for questioning in Sweden on sex crime allegations stemming from a brief visit here last summer.
He denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
His lawyers have sharply criticised Sweden's justice system and say he risks being handed over to the United States, which is investigating whether Assange's secret-spilling website should be held responsible for leaking classified information.
Swedish Justice Minister Beatrice Ask has not responded to the letter, her spokesman Martin Valfridsson said, adding: "She's not allowed to comment on individual cases."
Ask told AP last week Assange had no reason to worry about not getting a fair hearing and urged him to turn himself in for questioning.
Assange is out on bail in Britain and his next extradition hearing is next Thursday.
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