Some of Britain's most prominent businessmen are urging the UK government to stop the extradition of three former NatWest bankers to face Enron-related fraud charges in the US.
Billionaire retail tycoon Philip Green, Chris Gent, former head of Vodafone and Martin Broughton, chairman of British Airways were among the 39 signatories to the letter addressed to Britain's Home Secretary John Reid published in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The letter points out that an approved extradition treaty with the United States is being used by the US legal system, not to capture bombers, but to bring to trial in America British businessmen.
The former NatWest bankers David Bermingham, Gary Mulgrew and Giles Darby face a trial in Houston, Texas, after losing a long-running battle against extradition.
The letter to Reid highlighted the fact that the bankers' alleged fraud was against a British bank and the evidence and witnesses are in Britain.
They have argued that if they are prosecuted it should be in Britain.
The three bankers are alleged to have conspired with Enron executives, including the collapsed energy trader's former finance director Andrew Fastow, over the sale of a stake in an Enron entity in 2000 for less that it was worth, which made them $7.3m.
They deny the allegations. No legal proceedings have been launched against them in Britain.
They appealed to the House of Lords to review their extradition case, but this was rejected.
Under the treaty, the US is able to demand a Briton's extradition without having to show there is a case to answer based on available evidence, but Britain must prove its case in a US court to extradite US citizens to the UK.
The United States has still to ratify the treaty.
