BANGKOK - THAILAND insisted on Saturday that alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout would receive fair hearings as a court decides whether to extradite him to the United States.

Bout earned the nickname 'Merchant of Death' for his alleged role in funnelling weapons to some of the world's bloodiest conflicts.

He was arrested on March 6 in Bangkok in a sting operation organised by US anti-drug agents on a warrant for charges of procuring assets for terrorists.

Russia's foreign ministry Friday summoned the Thai ambassador in Moscow to complain of 'abuses of the rights' of Bout, saying in a statement that Russian authorities intended 'to ensure strict observance of the relevant Thai legislation and norms of international law.'

Thai foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said in a statement on Saturday that Bout 'shall be entitled to due process and fair hearing under the law of Thailand.' 'Mr Viktor Bout has been permitted to communicate with his counsel, whenever he was questioned by the authorities,' Mr Tharit said, adding that the Russian embassy has also been given consular access.

'The Thai authorities have treated Mr Viktor Bout with respect and have acted to ensure his physical health and safety while in custody,' he added.

Bout is being held at a maximum-security prison outside Bangkok, where he says he was jailed unlawfully on 'fabricated American accusations.' 'I didn't commit any crimes in Thailand, where I spent only three hours and then was arrested. I have never been to the United States,' he said from behind bars, in footage shown this week on Russian television.

A former Soviet air force officer, Bout is believed to have supplied arms to the Taleban militia, Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda terror network, rebels in South America and former Liberian leader Charles Taylor. -- AFP

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