14 December 2010 Last updated at 16:11Wikileaks founder Julian Assange granted bail
Julian Assange was photographed inside a prison van on his way to court
The founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks has been granted bail in London on conditions including cash guarantees of £240,000.
But Julian Assange will remain in custody as prosecutors have two hours to lodge an appeal against bail.
The 39-year-old Australian is fighting extradition to Sweden, where he is accused of sexually assaulting two women - charges he denies.
Other bail conditions include having to give up his passport.
Mr Assange was bailed on condition he provides a security of £200,000 to the court, with a further £40,000 guaranteed in two sureties of £20,000 each.
He will also have to obey a curfew at an address in Suffolk, wear an electronic tag and report to a local police station every evening.
Mr Assange was refused bail last week despite the offer of sureties from figures including film director Ken Loach.
A number of demonstrators gathered outside City of Westminster Magistrates' Court for the bail hearing on Tuesday.
Mr Assange is due to return to the court on 11 January.
'Common sense'Continue reading the main story“Start Quote
End Quote Yvonne Ridley AuthorIf he had been refused bail, it would have meant the court had become a political arena”
A large crowd of reporters and a number of Mr Assange's high-profile supporters were also outside the court.
Following the bail decision, novelist Tariq Ali said: "I'm very pleased that he is out. I think the extradition charges should now be dealt with in the same way.
"His barrister made the same point, that this is not rape under English law and there is absolutely no reason for extradition.
"We are delighted he is out and he should never have been locked up in the first place."
Author Yvonne Ridley said: "It is a victory for common sense. If he had been refused bail, it would have meant the court had become a political arena."
In his first appearance at court last week, Mr Assange was refused bail on the grounds he could flee.
He is accused of having unprotected sex with a woman, identified only as Miss A, when she insisted he use a condom.
Protesters gathered outside City of Westminster Magistrates' Court
He is also accused of having unprotected sex with another woman, Miss W, while she was asleep.
Mr Assange claims the charges are politically motivated and are designed to discredit him.
In recent weeks, Wikileaks has published a series of US diplomatic cables revealing secret information on topics such as terrorism and international relations.
The latest release, published by the Guardian newspaper, shows that the US had concerns after the 7 July bombings that the UK was not doing enough to tackle home-grown extremists.
Another cable claims British police helped "develop" evidence against Madeleine McCann's parents after she went missing.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
BBC News - Wikileaks founder Julian Assange granted bail
via bbc.co.uk
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