A Thai appeals court on Friday ordered the extradition of suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to the United States, angering Moscow but paving the way to put the man dubbed the "Merchant of Death" on trial.
Shackled in leg irons, Bout vowed to prove his innocence in an American courtroom.
"We will face the trial in the United States and win it," Bout told reporters in Russian after the verdict, according to Russia's RIA Novosti news agency.
The court ordered Bout's extradition within three months, overturning a lower court's ruling in August 2009 that rejected a U.S. request that he face trial there. No further judicial appeals are possible in Thailand.
The ruling is a victory for the Obama administration, which summoned the Thai ambassador in Washington this week so U.S. officials could "emphasize that this is of the highest priority to the United States," according to State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the court decision "unlawful and political." Without mentioning the United States, he said the ruling was influenced by "very strong outside pressure."
Experts say Bout has been useful for Russia's intelligence apparatus, and Moscow does not want him going on trial in the United States.
Bout, a 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, is reputed to be one of the world's most prolific arms dealers. He has allegedly supplied weapons that fueled civil wars in South America, the Middle East and Africa, with clients including Liberia's Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and both sides of the civil war in Angola.
The head of a lucrative air transport empire, Bout has long evaded U.N. and U.S. sanctions aimed at blocking his financial activities and restricting his travel. He has denied any involvement in illicit activities and claims he ran a legitimate business.
By: Brant
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