WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up court documents as he emerges to speak to the media on the steps of the High Court, in London Dec 16, 2010. Assange was freed on bail on Thursday while he fights extradition to Sweden over allegations of sex crimes. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange was released on bail Thursday - confined to a supporter's 600-acre estate but free to get back to work spilling US government secrets on his website as he fights Sweden's attempt to extradite him on allegations of rape and molestation.

Related readings: WikiLeaks?Assange is granted bail by UK  Julian Assange back in court to fight for bail  Sweden appeals UK granting bail for Assange

The silver-haired Australian, who surrendered to British police Dec 7, will have to observe a curfew, wear an electronic tag and report to police in person every day.

But there are no restrictions on his Internet use, even as US authorities consider charges related to thousands of leaked diplomatic cables and other secret documents WikiLeaks has released. The site has released just 1,621 of the more than 250,000 State Department documents it claims to possess, many of them containing critical or embarrassing US assessments of foreign nations and their leaders.

Dressed in a dark gray suit, Assange emerged from London's neo-Gothic High Court building late Thursday following a tense scramble to gather the money and signatures needed to free him. Speaking under a light snowfall amid a barrage of flash bulbs, Assange - who's been out of the public eye for more than a month - told supporters he will continue bringing government secrets to light.

"It's great to smell the fresh air of London again," he said to cheers from outside the court. "I hope to continue my work."

Assange ignored shouted questions from the assembled media.

Later, BBC footage captured the 39-year-old riding in a white armored four-by-four outside the Frontline Club, a venue for journalists owned by his friend and supporter Vaughan Smith. The broadcaster reported that Assange jumped upstairs for a celebratory cocktail at the bar, then went back outside to engage in a brief verbal joust with journalists over the merits of one of the leaked cables.

A few hours later, Assange arrived at Ellingham Hall, Smith's 10-bedroom mansion about 120 miles (195 kilometers) northeast of central London. Assange told journalists there that his time in prison had steeled him, giving him time to reflect on his personal philosophy and "enough anger about the situation to last me 100 years."