WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was unlikely to be extradited from Sweden to the US if there was a risk of the death penalty or a military court, Australia’s foreign minister said yesterday.

British authorities won their case to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden to face sex assault allegations, but because he sought asylum in Ecuador’s embassy in London they have so far been unable to send him there.

Supporters of the 41-year-old Australian believe that if sent to Sweden, Mr Assange could be extradited to the US to face charges of espionage over WikiLeaks’ publication of a vast horde of sensitive US papers.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said Australia could not get involved in cases outside its jurisdiction but that Stockholm had indicated the former hacker was unlikely to be sent to the US.

“It’s not a subject for Australian diplomacy, it’s a subject for consular support,” he told the Australian Financial Review.

“We have sought assurances from Sweden (that) due processes will be accorded.

“And the Swedes have said they don’t extradite anyone if there’s a capital offence or it’s a matter to do with military or intelligence.”

WikiLeaks has urged Sweden to guarantee it will not extradite Mr Assange to the US, where he fears being pursued over the organisation’s release of thousands of sensitive files, including on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.