Arms dealer hearing delayed again

Mr Bout's lawyer cited Guantanamo Bay in arguing against extradition

A court in the Thai capital, Bangkok, has delayed the extradition hearing of a Russian businessman dubbed the "Merchant of Death".

The Associated Press has reported that the hearing will be postponed until 6 March next year due to the failure of two witnesses to appear.

Viktor Bout, arrested in March 2008, is fighting extradition to the US on conspiracy and terror charges.

On Monday he took the stand for the first time to deny the charges.

"I didn't do anything wrong in Thailand. I have never been to Colombia or the United States," said Mr Bout.

The United States is seeking Mr Bout's extradition, after he was arrested in Thailand in a sting operation involving US agents.

The extradition hearing started in June but has been repeatedly delayed by a high turnover of defence lawyers.

Bangkok's Criminal Court had said it expects the hearing to be concluded by Wednesday, but one of Mr Bout's lawyers, Preecha Prasertsak, had said he planned to seek an extension to locate more witnesses.

Mr Bout was arrested when US agents posed as rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc, and has remained behind bars in Bangkok ever since.

United Nations agencies and several Western governments have reported that Mr Bout has delivered arms to dictators and warlords in Africa and Afghanistan, allegedly breaking several UN arms embargoes in the process.

He faces US charges of conspiring to kill Americans, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and conspiring to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile. He could face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.

His lawyer argues that Mr Bout would not receive a fair trial in the US, where officials say he supplied arms to dictators, al-Qaeda and the Taleban.

He is being held in a maximum security prison outside Bangkok.