Wikileaks' Julian Assange tells of 'smear campaign'

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has said attempts to extradite him to Sweden over sexual assault allegations are part of a "smear" campaign.

Mr Assange is staying at a house near Bungay, Suffolk, after being freed on bail by the High Court in London while awaiting extradition proceedings.

He said more information would be published by the whistle-blowing website following his release.

Mr Assange denies the allegations made by Swedish prosecutors.

'Disturbing aspects'http://cdn1.newsone.com/files/2010/12/julian-assange-007.jpg

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the 39-year-old Australian said of the case against him: "My feeling is in fact that there's a number of different interests - personal, domestic and international - that are all feeding from this process and encouraging it and pushing it along.

"But it is revealing some important things. It's revealing some disturbing aspects of Europe.

"For example, that any person in any European country can be extradited to any other European country without the provision of any evidence whatsoever."

Referring to the Wikileaks website, he said: "Now that I am back to assist the directing of our ship, our work will proceed in a faster manner.

"But as we have seen with my absence, things are well set up to proceed even without my direct involvement."

BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark asked Mr Assange if he would give his word of honour that he would not try to abscond before the next hearing.

He replied: "We have done everything by the book. We have tried as hard as possible to set up a situation where we can clear my name of these allegations.

"But what we have not seen is the provision of any evidence or material to allow us to do that."

'Continuing vendetta'

Mr Justice Ouseley ordered Mr Assange be bailed on payment of £240,000 in cash and sureties.

The judge imposed strict bail conditions including wearing an electronic tag, reporting to police every day and observing a curfew.