Arms dealers surrender to US

THREE men yesterday agreed to surrender to the United States on charges of conspiring to trade drugs for anti-aircraft missiles they allegedly wanted to sell to the al-Qaida terrorists.

In a move that surprised even their own lawyer, the two Pakistanis and an Indian-born US citizen said they would not fight an extradition battle that had been expected to carry on for weeks if not months.

The men did not say why they decided willingly to be sent to California and face charges that could put them in prison for life. They will likely be flown to the United States within weeks Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa must first sign off on their transfer.