Swiss film director faces extradition

GENEVA, Switzerland (AP):

Swiss officials say they will decide soon whether to extradite Roman Polanski to the United States (US) to face prosecution in a 1977 sex case.

Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli said "It won't be long" before a decision on the extradition request. He declined to be more specific.

The 76-year-old director fled the US on February 1, 1978, the day he was to be formally sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.

He was arrested on September 26, as he came to receive a lifetime achievement award at a Zurich film festival. He has been under house arrest at his chalet in the resort of Gstaad since December, when he was released on $4.5 million (?3.59 million) bail.

Polanski would be allowed to appeal extradition.