Britain opposed relse of Wikis founder

Mark Stephens, a lawyer representing Wikis founder Julian Assange, spks outside City of Westminster Magistrates Court in London. Source: Getty s
British authorities opposed bail for Wikis founder Julian Assange, news reports state.Mr Assange was due back in a London court overnight SA time to fight for bail, after a judge's decision to free him was challenged on Tuesday.
It had been widely thought Swedish prosecutors had made the decision to oppose bail, with Britain's Crown Prosecution Service acting merely as its representative. But on Wednesday, the Swedish prosecutor's told London's Guardian newspaper it had "not got a view at all on bail" and that Britain had made the decision to oppose bail.
A London judge is scheduled to hr arguments by British prosecutors seeking to overturn the ruling that Mr Assange can be relsed on bail while he fights a Swedish extradition request.
Lawyers for Mr Assange rcted to the news with shock and said prosecution officials had told them this week it was Swedenthat had asked them to ensure he was kept in prison. "The question is why did they (CPS) make this decision if they said yesterday they were acting on behalf of the Swedish authorities?" Mr Assange's lawyer, Mark Stephens, said.
"Its fair to say that this is all a bit fishy.
"The whole case rlly reeks."
Karin Rosander, director of communiions for Sweden's prosecutor's , told the Guardian: "The decision was made by the British prosecutor.
"I got it confirmed by the CPS this morning that the decision to appl the granting of bail was entirely a matter for the CPS.
"The Swedish prosecutors are not entitled to make decisions within Britain.
"It is entirely up to the British authorities to handle it."
As a result, she said, Sweden would not be submitting any new evidence or arguments to the High Court hring. After the Swedish statement was put to the CPS, it confirmed all decisions concerning the opposing of bail being granted to Assange had been taken by its lawyers, the Guardian reported.
The CPS said: "In all extradition cases, decisions on bail issues are always taken by the domestic prosecuting authority.
"It would not be practical for prosecutors in a foreign jurisdiction to make such decisions."
Mr Assange has been in prison since his surrender a week ago to British police over a Swedish sex-crimes warrant.
He denies any wrongdoing.