The extradition of "Pentagon hacker" Gary McKinnon has been approved by Home Sectretary John Reid.

He is accused of causing more than $700,000 of damage to federal computer systems used by the Department of Defense. McKinnon now has 14 days from July 4 to appeal appeal the decision, which was a rubber stamping of a district judge ruling in May.

A Home Office spokesman told the BBC: "Mr McKinnon had exercised his right to submit representations against return but the secretary of state did not consider the issues raised availed Mr McKinnon."

He was arrested by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit in 2002.

Glasgow-born McKinnon has said he broke into the networks to look for evidence of a cover-up of extraterrestrial technology. His lawyers have claimed the US could imprison McKinnon at Guantanamo Bay for terrorism. ®

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