A Slovakian court has ruled there are no obstacles to the extradition to Britain of three Irishmen alleged to be dissident republicans.
However, the final decision rests with the justice minister, Mr Jan Carnogursky, who is expected to make his decision after he returns from vacation next week.
Ministry spokeswoman Ms Alica Klimesova identified the three as Mr Michael Christopher McDonald, Mr Declan John Rafferty and Mr Fintan Paul O'Farrell.
"We expect that the minister will approve the extradition," said Ms Klimesova, adding that if the extradition is approved, the trio could leave Slovakia within two weeks.
The men were arrested last month in Piestany, a spa town in western Slovakia, where they allegedly had been trying to buy weapons from British secret service agents pretending to be Iraqi arms salesmen.
AP