Canongate to publish story of Assange

Mr Assange, whose website has sparked a worldwide diplomatic crisis, is understood to have partly written his memoirs, which he intends to have published within three months.

Canongate, owned by Edinburgh literary star Jamie Byng, has the rights in Britain, while Random House will publish in the United States, according to a leaked e-mail.

The Wikileaks founder is currently on bail and living in England under house arrest as he prepares to face extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted over alleged sexual offences.

The 39-year-old is an Australian computer expert, who angered the US by releasing secret diplomatic cables on his website and teaming up with newspapers around the globe to reveal the disclosures.