"Merchant of Death" Due in Court Again Friday

NEW YORK - A former Soviet military officer brought to the United States to face charges that he offered to sell weapons to a terrorist group is set to make his second appearance in a New York court.

Lawyers on Friday are expected to update a federal judge in Manhattan on progress they've made to bring Viktor Bout to trial.

Bout was extradited from Thailand two months ago. No trial date has yet been set.

The Russian government has complained that his extradition was unlawful and political. The 43-year-old Bout has pleaded not guilty.

He has been held without bail. Bout has been dubbed the "Merchant of Death" for allegedly selling an arsenal of weapons to small countries around the world.

Bout allegedly sold an arsenal of weapons that would be "the envy of some small countries" to aid anti-U.S. FARC rebels in Colombia.

Bout was arrested in 2008 in Thailand during a sting operation by undercover U.S. agents. He was extradited this week to the U.S. despite protests from Russia. He pleaded not guilty to the slew of charges against him in an initial court appearance Wednesday in New York.

CBS News' Pat Milton Reports on Bout's Court Appearance

For several months, U.S. and Russian officials had fought for control of Bout, flexing muscles in a manner that seemed to threaten cooperation on arms control, nuclear weapons curbs and the war in Afghanistan.

President Obama's administration insisted its efforts to rebuild relations with Moscow could weather any turbulence caused by Bout's extradition. Department of State spokesman P.J. Crowley acknowledged possible "ripples" in relations with Moscow but added that any concerns could be managed.

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