McKinnon fight goes to Brighton

Campaigners against the extradition of Nasa hacker Gary McKinnon have garnered more support at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.

McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp told ZDNet UK on Tuesday that MP Keith Vaz had agreed to write to American civil liberties campaigner Jessie Jackson outlining McKinnon's case.

The hacker, who admits accessing US systems in 2001/02, claims to have been searching for evidence of UFOs. Last summer McKinnon was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) has requested a meeting with Sarah Brown, the prime minister's wife, to discuss McKinnon's situation, a NAS spokesperson told ZDNet UK on Wednesday. McKinnon faces extradition to the US to face hacking charges.

"It was hoped that we could meet Sarah Brown after the conference, but unfortunately that was not possible," said the spokesperson. "An alternative meeting is being arranged."