No laptop, internet for Assange in prison

There was so much interest in WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange when he was brought to London's Wandsworth prison that authorities had to transfer him to the prison's segregation unit where he has limited access to the internet.

Thirty-nine-year-old Assange was sent to prison after being denied bail on Tuesday on charges of sexual assault in Sweden, which is seeking his extradition. According to The Guardian, other prison inmates had been supportive of Assange, whom the United States has accused of jeopardising its national security by releasing a flood of confidential diplomatic documents.

The WikiLeaks founder will seek to get bail again at the Westminster magistrates court next Tuesday. He asked for one of his legal team to be allowed to bring him a laptop, but was refused -- prisoners are not commonly allowed their own computers.

His solicitor Mark Stephens said, "He doesn't have access to a computer, even without an internet connection, or to writing material. He's got some files but doesn't have any paper to write on and put them in."

Stephens said Assange was concerned that people have unjustly accused WikiLeaks of inspiring cyber attacks.

Assange was seen by a doctor when he arrived at Wandsworth as part of standard assessment of prisoners to check if they pose a suicide risk.

In a letter to the Guardian, prominent supporters including John Pilger, Terry Jones, Miriam Margolyes and AL Kennedy call for Assange's immediate release. They wrote, "We protest at the attacks on WikiLeaks and, in particular, on Julian Assange," adding that the leaks have "assisted democracy in revealing the real views of our governments over a range of issues".