WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange says he fears the United States is getting ready to indict him, but insists the secret-spilling website will continue its work, despite what he has called a ”dirty tricks campaign”.

Mr Assange spoke on Friday from snowbound Ellingham Hall, a supporter’s 10-bedroom country mansion close to the city of Norwich, about three hours’ drive from London, where he is confined on bail as he fights Sweden’s attempt to extradite him on allegations of rape and molestation.

Mr Assange insisted to television interviewers that he was being subjected to a smear campaign and ”what appears to be a secret grand jury investigation against me or our organisation”.

He has retained the services of an unnamed US law firm.

Mr Assange has repeatedly voiced concerns that American authorities are getting ready to press charges over WikiLeaks’s continuing release of about 250,000 secret State Department cables, which have angered and embarrassed US officials worldwide.

US officials are investigating WikiLeaks and considering charges against Mr Assange, a case that, if pursued, could end up pitting the government’s efforts to protect sensitive information against press and speech freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.

A High Court judge freed Mr Assange on bail on Thursday on condition he live at the estate in eastern England, wear an electronic tag and report to police daily.

Mr Assange has described his bail conditions at the 18th-century mansion owned by former British Army officer Vaughan Smith as ”hi-tech house arrest”.

Although Mr Assange promised to focus on clearing his name, he said his first priority was to his work.

”Now that I am back to assist the directing of our ship, our work will proceed in a faster manner,” he said.