Over here, such headlines are usually reserved for statements from various ministers of the government. The way I read that headline is as if our minister of justice made a statement about Assange, and it would be a big surprise to me if she had done that.

So from this perspective it's misleading.

It doesn't work like that in the USA either, does it? If a official of the government, say a judge in a city, does something do you have headlines saying USA did it?

Sure it does, if regards foreign citizens.

"The US demands extradition of so-and-so", for example, would be a typical headline in many places.

Here we reserve that for when the president, secretary of state or someone relevant in foreign affairs says or does something, not a prosecutor.

I was under the impression that this was not a mere formality; but rather a request from a lawyer that may or may not be granted. Reading roel_v's comment though I may be mistaken.