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U.S. intends to recall second set of charges against Bout

RIA Novosti

16:10 26/08/2010

BANGKOK, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - The U.S. State Department has sent a letter to the Thai Foreign Ministry withdrawing its second extradition request for alleged arms smuggler Viktor Bout, a Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

"The ministry received the U.S. request on Monday. We are forwarding it to the Prosecutor General's Office," Thani Thongphakdi said.

Former Russian army officer Viktor Bout, 44, was arrested in March 2008 on a request from the United States, which accuses him of illegally trading arms. He has denied the accusations.

Last Friday, the Thai appeals court ruled to extradite the Russian to the United States.

However, on February 17, the United States brought new charges against Bout, accusing him of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the U.S. federal law that prohibits the export of goods, technologies or services that pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat... to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States".

The charges were passed over to the Thai criminal court two hours before the appeals court reached its verdict on the 2008 accusations. In accordance with Thai law, Bout cannot be extradited to the United States until the second charges are brought to court. A date for the hearing has already been set, the Thai Criminal Court said.

Thai media earlier reported that Bout would be extradited on Wednesday, but later said it had been delayed because of "legal complications."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the Thai court's decision politically motivated, suggesting it was made to appease Washington. He also said Moscow would seek Bout's repatriation.