WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange granted bail:

 

 

 

 as it happened

• Judge upholds bail after challenge by UK prosecutors
• UK, not Sweden, decided to oppose bail for Assange
• US prosecutors build a conspiracy case against Assange
• Read a summary of the days' events 
• Full coverage of the WikiLeaks cables

Julian Assange celebrates as he emerges to speak to the media on the steps of the high court Link to this video

6.37pm: Here's a final summary of the day's events:

• Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was freed on bail and vowed to continue to fight against the rape allegations he faces in Sweden. He said he hoped to reveal evidence to proved his innocence as and when he obtained it.

• High court judge Mr Justice Ouseley, upheld the decision by City of Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday to free Assange on strict conditions. But there was a wait of more than four hours before it was confirmed that the bail conditions would be met today and he would not have to face another night in jail. The bail conditions were as follows: a £200,000 cash deposit, with a further £40,000 guaranteed in two sureties of £20,000 and strict conditions on his movement.

• Lawyers acting for the Crown Prosecution Service argued that Assange was likely to abscond. But the judge noted that Assange had made arrangements at an early stage of his stay in Britain for his lawyers to be in contact with the Metropolitan police over the ongoing case in Sweden. "That is not the conduct of a person who is seeking to evade justice," the judge said.

And here's the text of Assange's full statement delivered outside the court on his release:

It's great to smell the fresh air of London again.

First, some thank yous. To all the people around the world who have had faith in me, who have supported my team while I have been away. To my lawyers, who have put up a brave and ultimately successful fight, to our sureties and people who have provided money in the face of great difficulty and aversion. And to members of the press who are not all taken in and considered to look deeper in their work. And I guess finally, to the British justice system itself, where if justice is not always the outcome at least it is not dead yet.

During my time in solitary confinement in the bottom of a Victorian prison I had time to reflect on the conditions of those people around the world also in solitary confinement, also on remand, in conditions that are more difficult than those faced by me. Those people also need your attention and support.

And with that I hope to continue my work and continue to protest my innocence in this matter and to reveal, as we get it, which we have not yet, the evidence from these allegations. Thank you.

That seems like a good moment to end the live blog for today, so thanks for all your comments. Goodnight.

6.17pm: Here's the full quote in which Assange stated his intention to fight the allegations against him:

I hope to continue my work and continue to protest my innocence in this matter and to reveal as we get it, which we have not yet, the evidence from these allegations.

6.07pm: You can listen to what Assange said in this Audioboo recording.

6.03pm: He reflects on the conditions inside prison, in solitary confinement, and calls on people to support those who face tougher conditions than he did inside.

He ends the brief statement by saying he will continue the fight and hopes "to reveal...the evidence from these allegations".

Assange ignores the flurry of questions aimed at him and turns away from the cameras.

6.01pm: Julian Assange walks out of the High Court with a hand raised. "It's great to smell the fresh air of London again," he says.

He thanks all the people around the world who have had faith in him and his lawyers, sureties "in the face of great difficulty and aversion", also members of the press "who were not all taken in" and finally the British justice system. "If justice is not always the outcome, at least it is not dead yet."

5.54pm: Sky is saying Assange will be coming out of the high court in five minutes time. He will then make a statement.

5.48pm: Julian Assange has just been released.

5.45pm: An update from Vikram Dodd, which suggests there might be a new obstacle to Assange being released tonight: