‘WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange granted bail

London : WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted bail by a British judge on Tuesday after after the former surrendered last week to London police in connection with sex crime allegations against him in Sweden.

The bail of USD 317,400 was granted on strict conditions, including electronic tagging and a curfew, pending a hearing on Jan 11.

Swedish authorities, who are trying to get him extradited, plan to appeal against the bail within the next 48 hours. Assange was placed under custody ahead of his extradition hearings, which the 39-year-old Australian is currently fighting.

Swedish police had earlier sent out a lookout for Assange after two WikiLeaks workers had accused Assange of ?rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion?. The Interpol too had joined the lookout and issued a Red Notice against him.

The legal actions came in wake of a massive expose by Assange?s international publishing service for whistle-blowers which left the American administration egg-faced.

Defying disapproval of the White House, WikiLeaks, on Nov 28, had released nearly 250,000 diplomatic cables from U.S. embassies across the world from the past three years uncloaking the backroom bargains of world leaders and insight into their fears as well as the concerns of USA.

On Dec 7, as per his prior agreements with authorities, Assange went to a central London police station, where he was arrested by officers from Scotland Yard?s extradition unit on the basis of the Swedish Government’s arrest warrant.

However, the 39-year-old maintains that he did not commit any ?sexual misconduct? while in Sweden in August.