Alberto Gonzales, the US Attorney General, today pledged to use his personal influence to fight for Washington to implement a mutual extradition deal agreed with Britain three years ago.
Mr Gonzales, during a visit to London, was responding to revelations in The Times that British ministers have protested they can not prosecute criminals sheltering in the US, including a murder suspect and an alleged dangerous paedophile.
By Daniel McGrory of The Times
Alberto Gonzales, the US Attorney General, today pledged to use his personal influence to fight for Washington to implement a mutual extradition deal agreed with Britain three years ago.
Mr Gonzales, during a visit to London, was responding to revelations in The Times that British ministers have protested they can not prosecute criminals sheltering in the US, including a murder suspect and an alleged dangerous paedophile.
White House officials are embarrassed at Congress’s refusal to agree a fast track deal with its closest ally in the War on Terror.
Mr Gonzales, who met Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said he has personally intervened with leading senators reminding them "it's important for our relationship with the UK and we would like to see action on this as quickly as possible".
There are hopes Congress could ratify the agreement as early as next month.
Mr Clarke said he is arguing for swift agreement very forcefully as a growing number of MPs demand Britain retaliates by refusing to extradite anybody to the US until the treaty is signed.
Parliament approved the deal three years ago and since then 12 people have been extradited from here to the US. Suspects still awaiting hand-over to Washington include nine for drug offences and seven on paedophile charges who fled to the UK.
There are also three terror suspects. Most have been approved for extradition and are awaiting the result of appeals.
By contrast Britain is seeking the extradition of nine suspects for a variety of crimes including murder, manslaughter, child sex abuse, assault and tax fraud.
