Russia and British company deny selling arms to Iraq
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A diplomatic row over the alleged Russian violation of UN sanctions on Iraq deepened last night as the United States accused Russian technicians of helping to train Iraqis to jam satellite signals that guide bombs and warplanes.
President George Bush telephoned the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to protest against the alleged sale to Iraq of night-vision goggles and anti-tank missiles by Russian companies.
The move came after British troops found Russian-made cruise missiles as well as British-made rocket-propelled grenades in bunkers outside the city of Basra.
The British firm whose name was on the weapons' boxes, Wallop Industries, of Middle Wallop in Hampshire, strongly denied that it had sold items to Iraq, which has been under sanctions since 1990.
The British company said the "weapons" – which it described as fuses for detonators – were probably smoke grenades stolen by Iraq in 1990 when they invaded Kuwait.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, denied Russia had supplied Iraq with any military equipment in breach of the sanctions. President Putin assured Mr Bush that Moscow would study any evidence provided by the Americans.
The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, told Sky News two Russian private companies were suspected of involvement in the illegal trade.
In Washington, an unnamed US official said that it was the discovery of Russian technicians in Baghdad "trying to make the jamming system work" which prompted the US decision to go public.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments