London, December 15
Sweden’s appeal against the bail granted to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on rape charges will be heard in the high court here tomorrow, even as his lawyers complained that the prison authorities were making it difficult for them to meet him for preparing his legal case.

Assange, 39, an Australian national who is wanted in Sweden for alleged sex offences, was granted bail at a court hearing yesterday after his supporters agreed to post a £200,000 cash deposit.

However, he was later told that he would remain behind bars after the Swedish authorities said they would appeal against the bail before the full extradition hearing began next year.

The appeal was lodged after District Judge Howard Riddle told Assange that he could be released from the Wandsworth prison in southwest London on the condition that he would have to reside at the agreed address of a former British army officer.

Captain Vaughan Smith, founder of the journalists’ Frontline Club, offered to house WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at his estate in Suffolk.

But, he admitted after the hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court that harbouring the former hacker could put his own safety at risk.

As a condition of his bail, the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange must live at the home of Smith.

Meanwhile, Assange’s lawyer Mark Stephens said half of the cash required by the court for Assange’s bail had been collected and dismissed suggestions that the WikiLeaks founder would try to flee the country, if released on bail.

“The suggestion that he is a flight risk is faintly ludicrous,” he told BBC television.

As per the bail condition, Assange will have to wear an electronic tag that would allow the British authorities to locate him all the time, the lawyer said.

But, he complained that the prison officials were increasingly making it difficult for lawyers to meet Assange and prepare his legal case.

“I can’t get access to him,” he said. “I will not be able to take instructions from him.” — PTI

Athens, December 15
Around 20,000 protesters chanting “no sacrifice for the rich” today marched through Athens as a general strike against austerity measures grounded flights, closed factories and disrupted hospital and transport services.

Angry unions triggered the 24-hour general strike in protest at newly approved labour reforms and pay cuts as the crisis-hit country deals with massive unemployment and struggles to reshape its economy according to conditions set by a euro 110 billion international bailout.

The police kept a close watch on demonstrations after previous ones were marred by violence. — AP

Kathmandu, December 15
The Nepalese authorities today remanded former crown prince Paras Shah to three-day of custody over a case of firing after an argument with relatives of Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, even as he claimed that he was suffering from a heart ailment.

District Administration Office (DAO) Basant Raj Gautam remanded Paras for three days on a public offence allegation.

Shah is accused of firing inside the Chitwan National Park during a brawl with daughter and son-in-law of Koirala. Paras, the only son of the deposed king Gyanendra was notorious for his playboy lifestyle and had got into several escapades in the Nepalese capital’s night spots.

“The police will either present his papers or himself to me after the investigation, then there will be decision on either his case should be taken to the court or dismissed,” Gautam was quoted as saying by MyRepublica.com.

Paras Shah, who has been kept in the police custody in Bharatpur has sought his release, saying he has a heart ailment and needs regular treatment for that. He has expressed readiness to be present when required. Shah’s personal doctors are expected to reach Bharatpur today. — PTI

A domestic aircraft belonging to Tara Air, which took off from the Lamidanda airport in Khotang district in eastern Nepal on Wednesday afternoon, went missing immediately after the took-off.

According to a civil aviation authority officer at the Tribhuvan international airport, the 9N-AFX Twin-Otter plane had 22 persons on board - three crew members, 19 passengers, including a foreigner. It left the airport for the Capital at 3.08 pm.

Preliminary information suggested that most of the passengers on board the charted aircraft were returning to Kathmandu after paying homage at a temple of Lord Shiva, called as Haleshi Mahadev in Khotang.

The crew members are: Captain AR Shakya, his assistant Satindra Shrestha, and airhostess AS Gurung.

The aircraft, which is also known as Yeti Air, lost contact with the air traffic control tower, five minutes after the take-off.

Meanwhile, two helicopters deployed for search and rescue operation of missing aircraft are facing difficulties to carry out search operation due to poor visibility.