Julian Assange freed, fears extradition to US - Summary

Thu, 16 Dec 2010

London - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, freed from custody in Britain, expressed fears Thursday that he could face a separate prosecution in the United States.

In an impromptu exchange with reporters outside the Frontline Club in London, where he stopped to have a drink after his release, Assange said he was less concerned about his possible extradition to Sweden than possible attempts to extradite him to the US.

He had heard "a rumor" from his lawyers in the US, which was not yet confirmed, that "there has been an indictment made against me in the US," said Assange. The New York Times has reported that the US government is trying to build a case Assange for collusion with a soldier suspected of leaking the information.

"I do not have too many fears about my extradition to Sweden. The much bigger fear is about extradition to the US," he said.

Just an hour earlier, Assange was freed after being granted conditional bail by a High Court judge, following nine days in custody in Wandsworth prison.

"It is great to smell the fresh air of London again," said the 39- year-old Australian, as he appeared on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice.

He was later driven away to the country estate of a friend, Vaughan Smith, for what his lawyers joked was a period of "mansion arrest."

Assange vowed to continue his work for freedom and transparency in the interest of people living in conditions "more difficult than those faced by me."

"I hope to continue my work and protest my innocence in this matter and continue to reveal, as we get it, the evidence in these allegations," he said in a reference to the Swedish extradition request.

He described his spell in Wandsworth prison in London as "solitary confinement," but hailed the British justice system for helping him to gain freedom.

A High Court judge in London earlier Thursday granted Assange bail, dismissing an appeal against attempts by the prosecuting authorities to stop him being freed.

The appeal was based on the contention that Assange was a "flight risk" due to his "lifestyle connections." There was confusion Thursday as to which prosecuting authority brought the appeal.

The Swedish authorities denied any involvement in the process, while Britain's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it acted as an "agent of the Swedish government," which had "supported" the appeal.

The controversial WikiLeaks founder will remain in Britain under strict bail conditions. The extradition case against him is due to begin early next year.

Assange has had to surrender his passport and will have to report daily to the police, observe a partial curfew and wear an electronic tag.

He will stay at Ellingham Hall, Smith's country estate in Suffolk, in south-east England.

However, his lawyers said they were relieved that no restrictions had been placed on his access to computers and ability to communicate with his organization and supporters.

WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson said in London that Assange would be able to join the work to release more secret US diplomatic cables. "Even with the severe conditions, under virtual house arrest, he will be able to work," said Hrafnsson.

Assange's mother, Christine, who traveled from Australia for the court hearing, said she was "very, very happy" with the decision.

"I can't wait to see my son and hold him close," she said. Asked what would be the first thing she would do, she replied: "Hug him."

Supporters were jubilant as news of the bail decision spread.

The bail of 200,000 pounds (312,000 dollars), which had to be provided in cash, was put up by prominent human right campaigners, authors and film directors, including Bianca Jagger, Jemima Khan, Tariq Ali, US documentary maker Michael Moore and British director Ken Loach.

Two sureties of 20,000 pounds each have also been requested.

Assange was detained in London after turning himself in at a police station on December 7, on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant (EWA) issued by Sweden.

He is wanted in Sweden on allegations of sex offenses against two women, which he denies, saying that the claims arise from a dispute over "consensual, but unprotected, sex."

His supporters maintain that the allegations - denied by Assange - are "politically motivated" and aimed at targeting WikiLeaks for its online publications of secret US government documents.

WikiLeaks last month launched the publication of more than 250,000 top secret cables from the US State Department.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/358583,extradition-us-summary.html.