Mr Assange's defence team, led by Geoffrey Robertson, QC, focused on exposing Sweden's unique handling of sexual crime cases, arguing that the lack of a pre-trial bail system and the holding of rape trials behind closed doors would mean justice could not be seen to be done.

Mr Robertson told the court during a three-day hearing this month that Mr Assange could be held on remand incommunicado in Gothenburg prison, a complex criticised by human rights organisations for ill-treatment of foreign prisoners.

The defence team attacked the Swedish prosecutor, Marianne Ny, and argued that the Swedes were guilty of an abuse of process after they failed to demonstrate any intention to charge or prosecute Mr Assange in the arrest document. They also said the application for a warrant was ''disproportionate'', as he has been willing to co-operate and be interviewed by phone, email or videolink, and that the acts of which he is accused are not crimes under British law.

The argument sparked an unprecedented attack from the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, who accused Mr Robertson and the legal team of denigrating his country and its justice system. The comments appeared to contradict Mr Reinfeldt's observations on January 20, when he visited London and told reporters that he would stay away from the issue, and they have been seized by the defence as further evidence that he will not receive justice if extradited.

The decision on the extradition warrant, to be delivered in Belmarsh Magistrates Court in south-east London, comes as WikiLeaks moves to raise funds for its founder's legal bills by opening an online shop selling T-shirts, mugs and stickers bearing Mr Assange's image - one as a Che Guevara figure with ''Viva la Informacion'' as the slogan and another with ''Free Assange'' on the back.