MOSCOW, September 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed Monday media reports that Russia is supplying weapons to Iraq.
"Russia is not carrying out any arms deliveries to Iraq. We take into account the acute military and political situation in that country," ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin told journalists.
Earlier, Iraqi and Western media alleged that Iraq's law enforcement agencies had received a batch of Russia's Mi-17 military helicopters (NATO codename Hip-H).
"This information is untrue. We have already officially denied such rumors, which periodically appear in the media," the official said.
But he said restrictions on Russian cooperation with Iraq in other areas did not apply.
About 12,000 Mi-17 helicopters have been built up to now and are used all over the world, while 70 countries have officially adopted them for military service.
