The Cape Verde's constitutional court has ordered the extradition to the United States of a Venezuelan government envoy who's been accused of money laundering and corruption.

Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman, was arrested more than a year ago as his plane stopped to refuel in the West African country.

He was in a Venezuelan government plane and was reportedly travelling to Iran on an important government mission.

President Nicolás Maduro said that Mr Saab's detention had been illegal because he had a diplomatic passport.

This was rejected by the court, which upheld an earlier decision to extradite him to the US.