(Updated) Assange Granted Bail; Swedish Gov't Appealing

LONDON (AP) -- A British judge granted Julian Assange bail on Tuesday but the WikiLeaks founder will remain in custody for at least another 48 hours after Swedish prosecutors said they would challenge the decision.

Assange, a 39-year-old Australian, has already spent a week in a U.K. jail following his surrender to police in a Swedish sex-crimes investigation. He denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers say he plans to fight Sweden's extradition request.

Britain's High Court will hear the Swedish appeal, although it wasn't immediately clear when.

Assange's lawyer Mark Stephens said his client's relief at the bail decision had already evaporated, calling it "unfortunate" that "the Swedes won't abide by the umpire's decision."

"They clearly will not spare any expense but to keep Mr. Assange in jail," Stephens told journalists outside the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. "This is really turning into a show trial."

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LONDON (AP) -- A British judge granted bail to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Tuesday, but he was being briefly held pending possible appeal.

Swedish authorities were given two hours to lodge an appeal and their lawyer, Gemma Lindfield, said it was likely she would.

The 39-year-old Australian has been held in a London prison for a week after surrendering to Scotland Yard due to a Swedish arrest warrant in a sex-crimes investigation.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LONDON (AP) - A British judge granted bail to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Tuesday, saying he must abide by strict bail conditions as he fights extradition to Sweden in a sex-crimes investigation.

The 39-year-old Australian has been held in a London prison for a week after surrendering to Scotland Yard due to a Swedish arrest warrant.

Assange is wanted for questioning after two women accused him of sexual misconduct in separate encounters in Sweden over the summer. Lawyers for Assange say he denies the allegations and will contest Sweden's attempt to extradite him.

A number of eminent international figures had offered to post bond worth at least 200,000 pounds ($315,000) to help secure Assange's release, his lawyer, high-profile human rights advocate Geoffrey Robertson, told the hearing in London on Tuesday.

Lawyer Gemma Lindfield, acting on behalf of Swedish authorities, asked the court to deny Assange bail because the allegations in Sweden were serious, Assange had only weak ties to Britain and he had money enough "to abscond."

Supporters outside City of Westminster Magistrates' Court erupted in cheers when they heard news of the judge's ruling.