British judge grants bail to WikiLeaks' Julian Assange

NBC, msnbc.com and news services 

LONDON — A British judge granted bail to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Tuesday, but he remained in custody pending a possible appeal. 

Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, some wearing masks depicting him and holding placards participate at a demonstration outside the Swedish Embassy in central London on Monday. Assange remains in custody in the U.K. ahead of a Dec. 14 hearing where he plans to fight Sweden's request to extradite him to face sex crimes allegations there. Marianne Ny, named on poster, is the Swedish Director of Public Prosecution.

The 39-year-old Australian, the target of U.S. fury over WikiLeaks' publication of part of a trove of 250,000 secret diplomatic cables that have embarrassed Washington, could be freed under strict conditions, District Judge Howard Riddle ruled ... read more