Convictions not shaken by incarceration says Assange

Julian Assange founder of the whistleblower website, WikiLeaks has declared from his London cell that his convictions remain as strong as ever and have not been shaken by his incarceration.

Assange has accused global giants Visa, MasterCard and PayPal of being ''instruments of US foreign policy'' for severing links with WikiLeaks since it began publishing secret US diplomatic cables.

The accusation comes in a statement passed on by Assange's mother Christine ahead of his appearance at an extradition hearing in London tonight.

Meanwhile, Assange's British lawyer, Mark Stephens has claimed that a secret US grand jury had been set up to go into what charges could be framed against Assange over the embarrassing leaking of US diplomatic documents.

The WikiLeaks founder is wanted by the Swedish authorities for questioning in two alleged sex crimes which he denies, according to lawyers fighting for his extradition.

Assange was denied bail last week and is being held in prison pending the court hearing late tonight, Australian time.