Assange lawyer hopeful ahead of appeal proceedings

LONDON - Lawyers for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Thursday they were hopeful that he would be set free on bail by the High Court in London - despite Swedish opposition.

As Assange, 39, arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London in a prison van, his lawyer, Mark Stephens, said he was confident that the bail sum of 200,000 pounds ($315,000) would be available later Thursday.

“It appears to be in the banking system,” he said. Numerous prominent backers, and members of the general public, had been “very generous” in their support.

A High Court judge is due to rule on an appeal by Swedish prosecutors against a decision by a magistrates court in London Tuesday to free Assange on conditional bail pending extradition proceedings.

“We are hopeful. But obviously it is entirely a matter for the judge,” said Stephens.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that federal prosecutors in the US are seeking to build a case against Assange on possible espionage charges for his role in obtaining and distributing classified information.

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