Home Secretary Charles Clarke has been given more time to decide on whether Tooting man Babar Ahmad should be sent for trial in the US on terrorism charges.

Mr Clarke had 60 days to make the decision after a magistrate failed to block the extradition in May but his deadline passed on Saturday without a resolution.

Mr Ahmad faces serious charges that he ran terrorist websites, encouraged Muslims to fight for the Taliban and possessed US naval plans. He fears he could not get a fair trial in the United States.

Mr Ahmad's family agreed to the Home Secretary's request for an extension and a judge granted the extra time, meaning a decision is now expected in September.

Mr Ahmad's supporters claimed the Home Office was seeking to recruit a new lawyer with expertise in US law, particularly relating to the death penalty.

The Home Office refused to make public the reasons for its request for an extension.

The Free Babar Ahmad Campaign has also claimed Mr Ahmad is "very likely" to face the death penalty a claim denied by the US Government.

The group also worries he will have limited access to lawyers, that he could be sent to Guantanamo Bay and that evidence obtained under torture could be used against him.

A recent agreement between the US and the UK means the Americans no longer have to provide evidence in order to have British citizens shipped there for trial they need only make accusations.

So far 73 MPs have signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion protesting against the extradition treaty, including Tooting MP Sadiq Khan and prominent Conservative MP Boris Johnson.

The Free Babar Ahmad Campaign said: "We hope that Mr Clarke will be sensitive in his decision to the many issues surrounding this complex case, especially in terms of its effects on community relations."

gmcgregor@london.newsquest.co.uk