Roman Polanski's Polish lawyers want media barred from next week's hearing on a US request for the film-maker's extradition over 1977 charges of sex with a minor.

A judge in Polanski's childhood city of Krakow is to hear the case on Wednesday. Polanski is in Poland preparing to make a movie and will attend the hearing.

Lawyer Jan Olszewski said today that Polanski's attorneys have asked the court to bar media from the courtroom, as protection of the Oscar-winning director's privacy and due to the circumstances of the case.

It is uncertain whether the court will rule on the extradition request on Wednesday.

Krakow prosecutors say they see no legal obstacles to Polanski's extradition, but they have refused a US request to arrest him.

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