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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Russia announces Libya arms deal | Russia announces Libya arms deal |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Russia is to supply Libya with small-arms and other weapons to the value of $1.8bn (£1.1bn, 1.3bn euros), Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced. | Russia is to supply Libya with small-arms and other weapons to the value of $1.8bn (£1.1bn, 1.3bn euros), Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced. |
| The contract is worth nearly a quarter of the Russian state arms exporter's entire sales last year, which were put at $7.4bn. | The contract is worth nearly a quarter of the Russian state arms exporter's entire sales last year, which were put at $7.4bn. |
| Mr Putin said the deal had been signed on Friday during a visit by the Libyan defence minister. | Mr Putin said the deal had been signed on Friday during a visit by the Libyan defence minister. |
| There was no immediate word from the Libyan side on the deal. | There was no immediate word from the Libyan side on the deal. |
| Abu Bakr Yunis Jaber, Libya's defence minister, has been in Moscow for several days, meeting defence officials. | Abu Bakr Yunis Jaber, Libya's defence minister, has been in Moscow for several days, meeting defence officials. |
| Keeping busy | Keeping busy |
| Mr Putin gave no details of the arms covered by the contract. Russian media speculated earlier that it might include fighter planes. | Mr Putin gave no details of the arms covered by the contract. Russian media speculated earlier that it might include fighter planes. |
| "Yesterday a contract worth 1.3bn euros was signed," Mr Putin announced at a meeting near Moscow with the director of the Russian small-arms manufacturer Izhmash, which makes the Kalashnikov assault rifle. | "Yesterday a contract worth 1.3bn euros was signed," Mr Putin announced at a meeting near Moscow with the director of the Russian small-arms manufacturer Izhmash, which makes the Kalashnikov assault rifle. |
| "These are not just small-arms." | "These are not just small-arms." |
| Mr Putin gave no further details. However, according to a military diplomatic source quoted earlier by Russian news agencies, the deal included fighter aircraft, tanks and a sophisticated air defence system. | |
| Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms export monopoly, announced on Thursday that its 2009 sales had seen a 10% increase on the previous year. | Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms export monopoly, announced on Thursday that its 2009 sales had seen a 10% increase on the previous year. |
| Customers included India, Algeria, China, Venezuela, Malaysia and Syria, with air force weaponry making up 50% of sales. | Customers included India, Algeria, China, Venezuela, Malaysia and Syria, with air force weaponry making up 50% of sales. |