LAWYERS for Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke went on the offence yesterday with the filing of a lawsuit in the Supreme Court, challenging the extradition proceedings against him.

The suit came a day after a magistrate at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court issued a warrant for Coke's arrest; a move that has brought on great anxiety in the business district of downtown Kingston, not far from Coke's stronghold of Tivoli Gardens.

The warrant was signed a day after the about-turn of embattled Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who announced in a public broadcast on Monday night that he had instructed Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne to give the authority to commence extradition proceedings against Coke.

The suit filed on behalf of Coke -- who is wanted in the United States on several counts of drugs-and gun-running charges -- names Lightbourne as a defendant.

It was only a few weeks ago that Lightbourne had filed suit in the Supreme Court seeking declarations on her rights under the Extradition Act to take into consideration evidence 'illegally obtained' in reaching her decision not to sign the extradition request that had been on her desk since last August.

On Tuesday, the US said it was pleased with the decision to proceed against Coke, calling the news an important first step.

"The evidence against Mr Coke was gathered after a lengthy and credible series of investigations and so this is an important first step in resolving this protracted dispute," State Department spokesman Noel Clay told the Observer on Tuesday.

Coke is now liable to be arrested and brought before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court where the evidence against him will be marshalled to determine if it warrants his extradition to the US for trial.

Should the court rule that he should face trial in the US, Coke has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court for reprieve. He can also petition the Court of Appeal should the Supreme Court uphold the decision of the RM Court to have him extradited.