A well-connected business couple in their seventies face extradition to the US under controversial "fast-track" procedures after losing a legal battle against the US authorities.

Stanley and Beatrice Tollman, hoteliers, had argued the authorities' request was an "abuse of process" because it was first made under the old extradition arrangements, but was then withdrawn and restarted in 2004 after the new fast-track regime came into effect.