Here are some facts about Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, whose extradition to Sweden was approved by a British judge on Thursday. PERSONAL LIFE:
* Assange was born in Townsville, Australia, in July 1971, to parents who were involved in theatre and travelled frequently. Assange's mother runs a puppet theatre.
* In his teens, Assange gained a reputation as a sophisticated computer programmer.
* In 1995 he was arrested and pleaded guilty to hacking. He was fined, but avoided prison on condition he did not reoffend.
* In his late 20s, he went to Melbourne University to study mathematics and physics.
* Assange has no permanent home and was often seen carrying a rucksack, moving from city to city and staying with friends in countries from Iceland to Kenya.
* He is described by those he has worked with as highly intelligent, determined, intense and at times paranoid.
* He is known for being highly secretive. It has been reported that he carries several mobile phones and at one point believed he was being followed.
* Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning about allegations of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion and he is fighting attempts to extradite him to Sweden. He has denied any wrongdoing.
* Assange was granted bail in December by a British court and has spent weeks in a mansion, northeast of London.
* In a ruling on Thursday, a British judge approved a Swedish request to extradite Assange to face accusations of sex crimes. Assange's lawyer said he would appeal.
