Hacker Gary McKinnon is set to be extradited to the US after a last-minute bid by his legal team failed.

The UK home secretary rejected claims that the 43-year-old Asperger's syndrome sufferer would be suicidal if extradited to face charges of breaching US military and Nasa computers.

"The secretary of state is of the firm view that McKinnon's extradition would not be incompatible with his [human] rights," Home Secretary Alan Johnson in a letter. "His extradition to the US must proceed forthwith."

Johnson rejected claims that Glasgow-born McKinnon's health had deteriorated considerably since losing his case in July, and that extradition would breach his human rights.

McKinnon’s legal team say they will appeal against the decision, and will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

McKinnon has admitted hacking into 97 US government computers, including Nasa's and the Pentagon's, during 2001 and 2002.