U.S. formally charges ‘Merchant of Death’

8 May, 2008 08:37 / Updated 16 years ago

Prosecutors in the U.S. have brought terror charges against the alleged Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

Known as the “Merchant of Death”, Bout’s accused of trying to supply Colombian FARC rebels with weapons, including an anti-aircraft missile. U.S. prosecutors claim that these could have been used to kill Americans in the country. Bout denies all the allegations. Bout was arrested in Thailand in March and since than the U.S. is seeking his extradition. The U.S. prosecutor says Bout has been running a weapon-trafficking business since the early nineties.