Sweden's judicial system is not descended from the same one the current English, US and Australian systems are. And their laws about sex crimes are also laid out quite differently, which is mostly why the question of whether it was rape or not is unclear. This undoubtedly makes the international extradition treaties complicated.

It doesn't explain why Sweden couldn't do some questioning of Assange in the UK, though it might help to explain that it might make sense to the Swedish prosecutor.

If Assange does manage to get to Ecuador, I wonder if he will be able to get to Australia from there. He is rumoured to have applied to run for Federal Parliament which might be fun to see.

Wade.