terça-feira, 11 de janeiro de 2011

WikiLeaks' Assange appears in court over extradition case


London (CNN) -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his lawyer appeared briefly in court in London Tuesday for a procedural hearing related to his extradition to Sweden on sex allegations.
The judge in the case agreed to a change in Assange's bail conditions for two days next month so he can get to the main extradition hearing on time on February 7-8.
Assange is currently required by the courts to stay at the mansion of a supporter outside of London every night. He'll be allowed to stay at the Frontline Club, a journalists' club in central London, on February 6 and 7 if the people who put up bail for him agree.
He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and current residence in a hearing that lasted about 10 minutes.
Celebrity supporters including activist Bianca Jagger and socialite Jemima Khan were in court, and a small crowd of pro-Assange demonstrators outside held signs with slogans including "This is not 1984".
Neither Jagger nor Khan spoke to reporters before they went inside.
Assange's website, which facilitates the leaking of secret information, has released hundreds of thousands of pages of U.S. military and diplomatic documents over the past eight months.
Prosecutors in Sweden want him for questioning in connection with sexual misconduct allegations unrelated to WikiLeaks.
Assange has denied the allegations, and is free on 200,000 pounds ($310,000) bail while he fights extradition.
In addition to staying at the mansion outside London, he must report to police between 2 and 5 p.m. daily, and wear an electronic tag to monitor his location. CNN