Judge clears way for terrorist extradition

LONDON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A judge in Pakistan cleared the way for Britain to extradite the man authorities accused of orchestrating a plot to blow up transatlantic passenger planes.

The judge decided to drop terror charges against Rashid Rauf, 25, of Birmingham, whom British officials have been trying to extradite for five months, the Times of London said Thursday. Observers said the ruling could be seen as an agreement to hasten Rauf's return to Britain for questioning about the airline plot and possible link to the July 2005 London suicide bombers.

In his decision, the judge ruled that Rauf still must be tried on charges of carrying fake identity documents. While Pakistan and Britain have no formal extradition treaty, Pakistani officials said they would return Rauf if the British authorities wanted to question him.

Rauf's detention set off arrests across Britain and forced police to explain claims that British-born terrorists were about to detonate liquid explosives on planes flying from Heathrow to the United States.

British police have said that they want to question Rauf about the 2002 stabbing murder of his uncle. Rauf, who has dual citizenship, reportedly fled to Pakistan soon after the incident.