Swift extradition of key suspect expected

LONDON, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- British officials are seeking the swift extradition from Pakistan of the alleged mastermind in the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners.

The Times of London says Scotland Yard officers are in Pakistan waiting to escort Rashid Rauf of Birmingham back to Britain.

A spokesman for the Home Office told The Times Britain has no formal extradition agreement with Pakistan. "However, there are a number of international conventions, such as the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, that set up formal extradition arrangements for certain types of criminal conduct," the spokesman told the newspaper.

British police said a new suspect was arrested Tuesday in the alleged plot to bomb U.S.-bound aircraft. Sky News said 23 suspects were being questioned and that police must charge them Wednesday or release them.

In Pakistan as many as 17 suspects are in custody, including Rauf, who British police described as a "key" suspect. He is the brother of Tayib Rauf, 22, one of those arrested in Birmingham last week.

The alleged plot broken last week involved mixing and exploding liquid chemicals aboard as many as 10 aircraft en route to the United States, officials said.