Ukraine Firm Accused of Arming Iraqis (insurgents)

[Barrett808]

Ukraine Firm Accused of Arming Iraqis
By NATASHA LISOVA, Associated Press Writer

KIEV, Ukraine - Prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings against a Ukrainian company suspected of smuggling surface-to-air missiles and other weapons abroad for a possible sale to insurgents fighting the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, an official said Monday.

Serhiy Rudenko, a spokesman for the prosecutor general's office, also said criminal proceedings were launched against four foreign citizens — from Greece, Iraq and Pakistan — on charges of attempting to purchase weapons and hire mercenaries to fight in Iraq.

Rudenko said missiles and related equipment were "taken from the Ukrainian military" and smuggled out of the country, possibly to Iraq. He refused to identify the company, specify how many missiles and other equipment were taken and didn't provide details about what type of missiles they were.

"It is the matter of our defense security" he said.

The prosecutor's office has handed over all documents related to the case "to an appropriate court," Rudenko said, giving no further details.

Defense Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Bolotniuk dismissed the prosecutor's claims, saying he had "no knowledge about it."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040920/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_iraq&cid=518&ncid=1480

[denverbill]

1. Odd isn't it. A few years ago we armed the mujahadeen to the teeth.

And it was all perfectly legal, cause they were 'freedom fighters' fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.