Russia's race to export arms By Alexander Koliandre BBC Russian service One of Russia's most popular export models For decades, the Soviet Union supplied Iraq with firepower, tanks and aircraft. Now the US is accusing two Russian firms of selling banned equipment to Iraq. President Vladimir Putin is at pains to prove that Russia has not supplied banned weapons to Baghdad. But after a decade of retreat, Russia is indeed regaining its position as a leading exporter of arms and military equipment. In 2002, Russia's export of military hardware rose to $4.8bn (£3.1bn) - a post-Soviet record. Arms sales have...