Home Secretary Sajid Javid has signed a request for Julianย Assangeย to be extradited to the United States over computer hacking accusations.
The Wikileaks founder is due to appear via video link before Westminster Magistratesโ Court on Friday for a case management hearing after the US requested his extradition.
Javid said he signed the order on Wednesday but that the final decision now rested with the courts.
Assange is serving a 50-week prison sentence after being dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy in April and jailed for a bail violation.
And an investigation has been reopened into an allegation of rape in Sweden, whichย Assangeย has always denied.
Javid told BBC Radio 4โs Today programme: โI am very pleased that the police were finally able to apprehend him and now heโs rightly behind bars because he broke UK law.
โThere is an extradition request from the US that is before the courts tomorrow. But yesterday I signed the extradition order and certified it and that will be going in front of the courts tomorrow.โ
He said it was a decision for the courts over whetherย Assangeย should be extradited.
Javid added: โThere is a very important part of it for the Home Secretary and I want to see justice done at all times and weโve got a legitimate extradition request so Iโve signed it but the final decision is now with the courts.โ
A Home Office spokesperson said: โMrย Assangeย was arrested in relation to a provisional extradition request from the United States of America.
โHe is accused of offences including computer misuse and the unauthorised disclosure of national defence information.
โWe have received the full extradition request, which has been certified by the Home Secretary.
โThis case is now before the courts and it would be inappropriate to comment further.โ
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