A lawyer acting for the founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks says he is confident of freeing his client from prison.
The founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been granted conditional bail by a judge.
Julian Assange, 39, was granted bail earlier this week, but the decision was objected to by prosecutors and he remained in jail.
The 39-year-old was granted bail in London earlier this week but prosecutors objected to the decision and he remained in jail.
He is appearing at the High Court to appeal against the withdrawal of bail.
The Australian is fighting extradition to Sweden over sex charges involving two women. He denies the allegations.
The Australian is fighting extradition to Sweden over sex charges involving two women. He denies the allegations.
Some reports suggested it was Swedish prosecutors who objected to the granting of bail but Sweden's Director of Prosecution, Marianne Ny, said: "The decision was appealed by the British prosecutor. Sweden has no opinion on this and will not intervene with a case handled by the British authorities."
His supporters have offered to put up a surety of £240,000 to guarantee he surrenders to bail.
His lawyer Mark Stephens said: "We are hopeful, but of course it is a matter entirely for the judge.
The appeal was heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by Mr Justice Ouseley.
"He will hear everything afresh and it is a matter for his decision and his decision alone."
Earlier the judge made a ruling banning the use of Twitter to give a blow-by-blow account of Thursday's proceedings.
He confirmed the £240,000 bail money - needed in cash - was likely to be ready.
The ruling was made just before 1300 GMT but it is understood it may take up an hour to process his release paperwork.
"Julian's supporters have come through for him so we look like we're on target, but we can't give certainty until the banks have opened," he told the BBC.
One of those supporters, veteran journalist John Pilger, who put up a £20,000 surety, said the case against Mr Assange was "ridiculous".
He said: "I hope he will be released - he should be, he is an innocent man until proven otherwise. This is an extraordinary case.
"The amount of bail is ridiculous. Many people have questions to answer, among them the director of public prosecutions."
Curfew condition
He was granted bail by Judge Howard Riddle at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, pending extradition proceedings due to start on 11 January.
As well as raising the bail money, he was also told to live under curfew at the home of journalist Vaughan Smith, founder of the campaigning Frontline Club.
Mr Assange's mother, Christine, visited him in jail on Wednesday and she described his demeanour: "Quiet anger, was actually the term that he used... he's not a loud aggressive person but I can see simmering, the injustice of it all."
She said her son found being kept isolated difficult even though he recognised it was for his own safety.
The appeal is being heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by Mr Justice Ouseley.
He is the judge who last week upheld bail for Shrien Dewani, whose wife was murdered on their honeymoon, following an appeal by South African authorities.
'Politically motivated'
'Politically motivated'
Mr Assange has received the backing of a number of high-profile supporters including human rights campaigners Jemima Khan and Bianca Jagger, and film director Ken Loach.
Mr Assange has received the backing of a number of high-profile supporters including human rights campaigners Jemima Khan and Bianca Jagger, and film director Ken Loach.
His website has published 250,000 sensitive American diplomatic cables, details of which have appeared in the Guardian in the UK and several other newspapers around the world.
Wikileaks has published hundreds of sensitive American diplomatic cables, details of which have appeared in the Guardian in the UK and several other newspapers around the world.
He has come under criticism in the US where former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has said he should be hunted down like the al-Qaeda leadership.
He has come under criticism in the US where former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has said he should be hunted down like the al-Qaeda leadership.
Mr Assange argues the allegations against him are politically-motivated and designed to take attention away from the material appearing on Wikileaks.
Mr Assange argues the allegations against him are politically motivated and designed to take attention away from the material appearing on Wikileaks.
He is accused of having unprotected sex with a woman, identified only as Miss A, when she insisted he use a condom.
He is accused of having unprotected sex with a woman, identified only as Miss A, when she insisted he use a condom.
He is also accused of having unprotected sex with another woman, Miss W, while she was asleep.
He is also accused of having unprotected sex with another woman, Miss W, while she was asleep.
