By Maria Golovnina
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it wanted to supply Syria with advanced missile systems, a move certain to anger the United States which accuses Syria of having links to terrorism.
Russia had long denied reports it wanted to sell missiles to Syria, its Cold War-era ally. The United States and Israel have urged Moscow to drop any such plans, saying Russian arms supplies would only strengthen militants in the Middle East.
"Talks are underway with this country to sell it Strelets air defense short-range missile systems," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The statement said Strelets missiles are not man-portable and can only be used when attached to a heavy vehicle -- which officials believe makes them less attractive to militants than the relatively cheap and easy-to-use shoulder-fired missiles.
Earlier this week, a senior U.S. diplomat in Moscow said the United States remained concerned over any arms trading with Syria that could lead to missile technology falling into the hands of terrorists.
"Our bottom line is that they (the Russians) should not be providing any military assistance to Syria since they are a sponsor of terrorism," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Relations between the United States and Syria are already tense and the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri this week has further strained them.
U.S. officials say Syria's military presence and political power-broking role are responsible for Lebanon's instability and on Tuesday Washington recalled its ambassador to Syria and said it was considering imposing new sanctions on Damascus.
SHOULDER-FIRED MISSILES
The news of Moscow's intention comes just days before Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Bush are due to sign a deal to curb trade in shoulder-fired missiles when they meet in Bratislava on Feb. 24.
Media reported earlier this year that Moscow was looking to sell Syria its flagship Igla shoulder-fired missiles, widely used by militants around the world. But the Defense Ministry on Wednesday reiterated that arms trade with Syria included no Igla missiles.
Russia has stressed it carries out arms exports strictly in accordance with international law and pledged to do nothing that would destabilize the Middle East.
Moscow -- already at odds with Washington over its nuclear ties to Iran -- has said U.S. terror accusations against Syria are hurting the Middle East peace process.
Moscow's efforts to forge closer ties with Syria are part of its plan to regain its long-lost influence in the Middle East.
During last month's visit by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia agreed to write off a huge chunk of Soviet-era debt held by Syria.
Iranian Officials: Blast Caused By Construction By VOA News:
16 February 2005:
Iranian officials say an explosion Wednesday near the southwestern port city of Daylam was caused by construction work, and was not a hostile attack.
News of the blast raised concerns, because it was in the same province where Iran and Russia are building a nuclear reactor. However, the blasting site was about 150 kilometers north of the Bushehr nuclear facility.
Earlier state television reported that residents had seen an aircraft overhead at the time of the blast. The television channel reported that the explosion may have been caused by a fuel tank dropping from an Iranian airplane.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters, AP and AFP. (stay tuned for a possble 4th scenario :)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-16voa110.cfm