Magic AM

Barack Obama's had to answer some tough questions about the extradition of Sheffield student Richard O'Dwyer.

The President was quizzed about the case by Americans during an online interview and it was the number one question people taking part wanted him to answer.

23 year old O'Dwyer is accused of breaking American copyright laws; he lost the first stage of his fight against extradition earlier this month.

During the web discussion Obama was asked why he was "personally supporting the decision to extradite O'Dwyer for solely linking to copyright infringing, using an extradition treaty designed to bring terrorists to judgement in the US".

Obama replied:

"The President does not get involved with prosecution decisions or extradition decisions, and this has been a decision by the justice department. "What I can say broadly is that we want to make sure that intellectual property is protected, or that the creative works of people in this country are expropriated, but we want to do it in a way thats consistent with internet freedom."

But Richard's mum, Julia O'Dwyer says she's disappointed Obama didn't take more responsibility:

"The response was a typical politician's response: non-committal. I'm a bit concerned that he doesn't know what's going on in his name but at least he did get to answer the question so that will bring it to the attention of the American public.

"Generally the politicians don't interfere with the lawmakers but the politicians sign up the laws. Maybe he should be pressuring the British government to make the arrangements for UK citizens equal to those of US citizens."