London | The jailed Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was too ill on Tuesday to attend a last-ditch court bid to avoid extradition to the US, as his lawyers alleged the Americans had earlier wanted to kill or kidnap him, and now hoped to strong-arm him into a plea bargain.

Although Mr Assange remained in Belmarsh high-security prison in south-east London on day one of the two-day hearing, hundreds of his ardent supporters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice for more than seven hours of chanting, speeches and music.