Syrian company SES International has denied allegations that it was involved in illicit arms trade dealings with Iraq. The US-based LA Times accused the firm of signing more than 50 contracts to supply millions of dollars worth of military equipment to Iraq between 2000 and 2003.
The newspaper cites files that were allegedly discovered in the abandoned office of Iraq’s Al-Bashair Trading Company by a German reporter shortly after the US invasion of Baghdad. The records purportedly state that SES was a main channel for illicit arms transfers to Iraq supplying “1,000 heavy machine guns and up to 20 million bullets for assault rifles," to the state.
In response to the accusations, SES sent the newspaper an e-mail stating that it was not involved in any illicit trade dealings with Iraq.
Washington has branded Syria a “rogue nation” and a “terrorist state” and accuses the Arab nation of facilitating “the escape from Iraq of members of Saddam Hussein's regime.” Accusing Syria of developing weapons of mass destruction and financing Islamic extremist groups, the Bush Administration recently signed the Syria Accountability Act, a policy that bar US exports, including dual-use items, to the country. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
