UK home secretary Alan Johnson has decided that Gary McKinnon should be sent to the US to face trial on hacking charges.

McKinnon could be extradited in a matter of weeks, after Johnson ruled that there was no new reason for the UK hacker not to go.

"I have carefully considered the representations in the case of Gary McKinnon. I am clear that the information is not materially different from that placed before the High Court earlier this year, and does not demonstrate that sending McKinnon to the US would breach his human rights," said Johnson in a statement.

"As the courts have affirmed, I have no general discretion. If McKinnon's human rights would be breached, I must stop the extradition. If they would not be breached, the extradition must go ahead."

The Free Gary McKinnon supporters' group said that, although this suggested a glimmer of hope for the hacker, it might just be a delaying tactic. McKinnon suffers from Asperger's disease, and is asking to be tried closer to home where his sentence could be a lot more lenient.

"[Johnson's] final words imply that the case is again sub judice, but they are just as likely to be an excuse to avoid answering any questions about his own handling of the case before the forthcoming General Election," said the group in a blog post.