Thailand's Appeals Court on Friday granted a request by the United States for the extradition of Viktor Bout, an alleged Russian arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death", the Bangkok Post's website reported.

"The court has decided to detain him for extradition to the US, " judge Jitakorn Patanasiri said, overturning a ruling last year by a lower court, which had refused to send him to the U.S.

Bout, said to have inspired the Hollywood film "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage, has been fighting extradition since his March 2008 arrest in Thailand's capital Bangkok in a sting operation involving US agents.

The Bangkok Post's website reported that he will face life in prison if convicted in the United States on terrorism charges, including conspiracy to kill US officers or employees and conspiracy to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile.

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