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Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is granted bail | Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is granted bail |
(40 minutes later) | |
The founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been granted conditional bail by a judge. | The founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been granted conditional bail by a judge. |
The 39-year-old was granted bail in London earlier this week but prosecutors objected to the decision 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. |
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. |
Mr Justice Ouseley granted conditional bail at the Royal Courts of Justice and supporters put up £240,000 in sureties. | Mr Justice Ouseley granted conditional bail at the Royal Courts of Justice and supporters put up £240,000 in sureties. |
Mr Assange's solicitor, Mark Stephens, said afterwards the bail appeal was part of a "continuing vendetta by the Swedes". | |
He said: "We have won costs today but they should be paid by Sweden not the hard-pressed Crown Prosecution Service." | |
Gemma Lindfield, representing the Swedish authorities, had told the judge there was "a real risk" Assange would abscond and pointed to his nomadic lifestyle. | Gemma Lindfield, representing the Swedish authorities, had told the judge there was "a real risk" Assange would abscond and pointed to his nomadic lifestyle. |
She said he had "the means and ability" to go into hiding among Wikileaks' many supporters in this country and abroad. | She said he had "the means and ability" to go into hiding among Wikileaks' many supporters in this country and abroad. |
But Mr Justice Ouseley pointed out Mr Assange had offered to meet the police in London when he heard the Swedish matter was still live and he said: "That is not the conduct of a person who is seeking to evade justice." | But Mr Justice Ouseley pointed out Mr Assange had offered to meet the police in London when he heard the Swedish matter was still live and he said: "That is not the conduct of a person who is seeking to evade justice." |
Earlier, the judge made a ruling banning the use of Twitter to give a blow-by-blow account of Thursday's proceedings. | Earlier, the judge made a ruling banning the use of Twitter to give a blow-by-blow account of Thursday's proceedings. |
The ruling was made just before 1300 GMT but it is understood it may take up an hour to process his release paperwork. | The ruling was made just before 1300 GMT but it is understood it may take up an hour to process his release paperwork. |
'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. |
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. | 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. |
One of his supporters, writer Tariq Ali, said: "I'm relieved. He should never have been denied bail in the first place." | One of his supporters, writer Tariq Ali, said: "I'm relieved. He should never have been denied bail in the first place." |
He said Mr Assange had suffered from some "vindictive and punitive" decisions and he claimed: "The Swedes are acting on behalf of a bigger power." | He said Mr Assange had suffered from some "vindictive and punitive" decisions and he claimed: "The Swedes are acting on behalf of a bigger power." |
Mr Assange is accused of having unprotected sex with a woman, identified only as Miss A, when she insisted he use a condom. | Mr Assange 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. |