LONDON: A Briton accused of hacking into US military and Nasa computers faces extradition to the United States after the British government yesterday rejected last-ditch requests to block the move.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he concluded that sending Gary McKinnon to the United States would
not breach his human rights, and has no general discretionary powers to stop the extradition.

"If McKinnon's human rights would be breached, I must stop the extradition. If they would not be breached, the
extradition must go ahead," Johnson said in a statement.

"As the courts have affirmed, I have no general discretion," he said. McKinnon, who suffers from a form of autism, could spend life in prison if convicted by a US court of gaining access to 97 computers in 2001 and
2002 in the aftermath of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.

McKinnon says he was only looking for evidence of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) when he hacked into
the US Navy and Nasa space agency computers.

Throughout the long-running case, McKinnon's lawyers have argued against extradited in part because he suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, and could commit suicide or suffer psychosis if it went ahead.

McKinnon's mother slammed the minister's decision as "barbaric". Janis Sharp warned that the 43-year-old
was terrified of extradition and the case has taken its toll on his mental health.

"To force a peaceful, vulnerable, misguided UFO fanatic like Gary thousands of miles away from his much  needed support network is barbaric," Sharp said.

"This is a cruel and miserable decision," she said, adding that the government, should "hang their heads  in shame".

"If the severity of Gary's medical condition isn't sufficient to prevent his extradition, I can't imagine what is.
God help others facing a similar fate."

His cause has drawn high-profile support, including from Trudie Styler, wife of rock star Sting, who urged
Britons to write to the Home Secretary.