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STORY: Crowds of supporters cheered as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday (May 20) won the right to appeal against extradition to the United States.

That’s after arguing at London’s High Court that he might not be able to rely on his U.S. First Amendment right to free speech in a U.S. court.

In March, the court had granted Assange provisional permission to appeal on grounds that he might be discriminated against as a foreign national.

It invited the U.S. to submit assurances.

At the hearing, U.S. prosecutors told the court Assange could "seek to rely" upon the First Amendment protections granted to U.S. citizens.

But two judges ruled Assange's argument deserved a full appeal.

It is unlikely to be held for months.

Hundreds of protesters had gathered outside the London court ahead of the key ruling.

As they cheered and sang, Assange’s wife Stella responded:

"The judges reached the right decision. We spent a long time hearing the United States putting lipstick on a pig, but the judges did not buy it. As a family we are relieved, but how long can this go on? The United States should read the situation and drop this case now. Now is the moment to do it. Just abandon this shameful attack on journalists, on the press and the public that has been going on for 14 years.''

The 52-year-old is wanted in the U.S. on 18 charges, nearly all under the Espionage Act.

They relate to WikiLeaks' mass release of secret U.S. documents - the largest security breaches of their kind in U.S. military history.

The Australian national was not present in court on Monday, with his lawyer citing health reasons.

The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment on a pending judicial matter.

Had Monday's ruling gone against him, Assange's team said he could have been on a plane to the U.S. within 24 hours, ending more than 13 years of legal battles in Britain.