US moans over May's decision to halt extradition

The US Department of Justice said it was "disappointed" that Home Secretary Theresa May had used the Human Rights Act to halt the process, but said the "extradition relationship" between the countries remained strong.

The US accuses Asperger's sufferer Mr McKinnon of pulling off "the biggest military computer hack of all time," but he claims he was merely looking for evidence of UFOs.

Ms May halted his extradition after medical reports suggested the 46-year-old was very likely to try to kill himself if sent to the US.

She said the government would activate the "forum bar" provision in the 2006 Police and Justice Act allowing a judge to refuse extradition where "a significant part" of the alleged offence took place in Britain.

Responding to the statement a US Department of Justice spokeswoman said the US was "disappointed" by the decision, "particularly given the past decisions of the UK courts and prior Home Secretaries that he should face trial in the United States.

"We note that the Home Secretary has described this case as exceptional and, thus, this decision does not set a precedent for future cases."

But she added: "Our extradition relationship with the UK remains strong, as is demonstrated by the extradition of five alleged terrorists from the UK just last week."

Campaigners slammed Ms May's double standards for her determination to extradite those "alleged terrorists" as one of them, Syed Ahsan, also suffers from Asperger's.

Fellow suspect Babar Ahmad's family said: "Many of our supporters are angry at what appears to be blatant old-fashioned racism under which all British citizens are equal but some are more equal than others."