Publisher confirms Julian Assange book deal

[December 28, 2010]  LONDON (AP) -- Publisher Alfred A. Knopf Inc. has confirmed striking a book deal with Julian Assange that the WikiLeaks founder says could be worth more than $1 million.

A spokesman for the New York publishing house says that "a principle agreement is in place" and that Assange is due to hand in a manuscript sometime in 2011. The book's publication date is yet to be determined.

Assange told The Sunday Times newspaper that he was forced into writing the book by financial pressures largely linked to his legal fight to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces sex crimes allegations.

Assange told the paper he would received $800,000 from Knopf, with another 325,000 pounds ($500,000) from U.K. publisher Canongate.

Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards declined to comment on the specific figures.

[Associated Press]

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