A British judge Friday said he needed time to consider whether WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face allegations of sex crimes and adjourned his extradition hearing to February 24.

Assange, a 39-year-old computer expert who has infuriated the U.S. government by releasing thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables on his website, is wanted in Sweden to answer questions about allegations of sexual misconduct made by two WikiLeaks volunteers.

Judge Howard Riddle was speaking after a three-day hearing at Belmarsh magistrates' court in southeast London.

(Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

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