Thailand to extradite Viktor Bout to US

Mon Aug 23, 2010

BBC News

The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Bangkok explains the case surrounding the ruling

A Russian man suspected of selling arms to insurgent groups around the world is to be extradited to the United States, a court in Thailand has ruled.

Viktor Bout, 43, is pleading not guilty on US charges of conspiracy to sell arms to Colombian rebels.

Mr Bout - dubbed the Merchant of Death - was detained in a joint Thai-US sting operation in March 2008.