No challenge to bail for Polanski

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Swiss authorities say they will not appeal against a ruling granting bail to film director Roman Polanski.

The 76-year-old was held over a US child sex case in September after travelling to Switzerland from France.

Polanski will remain under house arrest at his chalet in the Swiss Alps and be monitored by an electronic tag.

He has been wanted in the US since fleeing the country in 1978 after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex a year earlier with an underage girl.

"Polanski will be released from custody as soon as bail has been transferred, ID and travel documents have been lodged, and the electronic monitoring system has been installed and tested," the Swiss justice department said.

'Exotic animal'

The decision comes a day after the Swiss Federal Criminal Court granted the Oscar-winning director $4.5m (£2.7m) bail, pending proceedings for his possible extradition to the US.

The chalet reported to belong to Polanski, near an exclusive ski resort

He must surrender his passport and be fitted with an electronic bracelet that will activate if he attempts to abscond from his chalet in the ski resort of Gstaad.

The director of films such as Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown and The Pianist was arrested after travelling to Zurich on 26 September to pick up a lifetime achievement award.

The justice ministry said earlier Polanski was not expected to be released on Thursday and the move would be handled discreetly.

"We don't want to show him off like an exotic animal," said ministry spokesman Folco Galli, reported AP news agency.

Polanski was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl after plying her with champagne and a sedative during a modelling shoot in 1977.

He was initially indicted on six felony counts, including rape by use of drugs, child molesting and sodomy, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Polanski fled the US in February 1978 on the day he was to be sentenced, and has lived in France since.