US-Russia tensions emerge at hearing of alleged arms smuggler
(9 Mar 2009) 1. Wide of prison bus arriving at Bangkok Criminal Court detention centre 2. Cutaway of security 3. Mid of Viktor Bout, alleged Russian arms smuggler, exiting bus and walking into detention centre with other prisoners 4. Zoom in to shackles on Bout's ankles, tilt up as Bout walks into detention centre 5. Mid of man talking to Bout behind bars 6. Mid of shackles on Bout's ankles 7. Wide of Bout behind bars 8. Close of Bout speaking behind bars 9. Wide of man speaking to Bout 10. Wide of Bout seated with other inmates at detention centre STORYLINE: The judge deciding whether to extradite an alleged Russian arms smuggler to the US said Monday that he is seeking input from the Thai Foreign Ministry because relations with Washington and Moscow could be at risk. Viktor Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death" for allegedly arming dictators and warlords, arrived at Bangkok's Criminal Court detention centre dressed in an orange prison uniform, shackled at the ankles. The United States wants Bout, who was arrested in Thailand last year for allegedly conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to Colombian rebels, tried in New York. Russia has called the effort to extradite Bout "bewildering" and US lawmakers have accused Moscow of trying to have Bout handed over to them, raising the possibility he could avoid trial in the United States. The 41-year-old has been linked to some of Africa's most notorious conflicts, allegedly supplying arms to former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. He has repeatedly denied any involvement in illicit activities and has never been prosecuted, despite being the subject of United Nations sanctions and a travel ban. On Friday, the Russian businessman angrily accused the United States of framing him and pressuring Thailand to extradite him to face terrorism-related charges. He also complained of inhumane treatment at a Thai prison that he said was cramped, hot, uncivilised and "worse than Guantanamo." Bout was arrested in March 2008 during a sting operation in Thailand in which undercover US agents posed as rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. His extradition hearing, which started last June, has been repeatedly postponed by a shifting cast of attorneys and defence witnesses who have failed to appear. His hearing will continue March 17. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
