Urs Tinner, 40, who was detained in October 2004, is suspected of helping Libya to build nuclear centrifuges for the enrichment of uranium in order to produce atomic weapons.

Swiss officials said he was extradited on Friday.

The Swiss federal prosecutor said he and other members of his family formed part of a network linked to Abdul Qader Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb.

The network allegedly smuggling parts to Libya was broken up in 2003 after a German ship was seized with goods on board which included equipment which could be used in a nuclear programme.