Polanski 'in fighting mood' over arrest

Roman Polanski's lawyer has said that the director is "in a fighting mood" after being arrested in Switzerland yesterday.

The Oscar-winning director will battle attempts by the US to extradite him to California to be sentenced for unlawfully having sex with 13-year-old girl in 1977, The AP reports.

Attorney Herve Temime said: "Taking into account the extraordinary conditions of his arrest, his Swiss lawyer will seek his freedom without delay."

He added to France-Info Radio: "He was shocked, dumbfounded, but he is in a fighting mood and he is very determined to defend himself."

Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman Gudio Balmer said that Polanski could be released on bail under strict conditions not to flee the country, but added: "This is a legal story. There is no room for political pressure.

"There was a valid arrest request and we knew when he was coming. That's why he was taken into custody. There is no link with any other issues."

In 1977, Polanski was charged with rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.

These charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain which saw the director admit to unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl in question, but he fled the US on the eve of his sentencing after he was released following psychiatric evaluation.

Earlier this year, a US judge rejected a request from Polanski to waive the charges against him.