Iraqi govt.
spokesman denies any relation with Russian arms deal

BAGHDAD/ Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh denied "any relation whatsoever" with the Russian arms deal, expressing astonishment for including his name, according to Saudi Al-Sharq al-Awsat daily.

In a telephone call with the paper, he utterly denied the news and demanded premier Nouri al-Maliki to make a comprehensive investigation on the deal and publish the results "to clear his name".

Maliki's advisor Ali al-Mussawi announced that the deal was cancelled, in his statement to AFP.

Chairman of parliamentary Integrity Commission Baha' al-Araji sent a letter to Premier Maliki calling him to end the Russian arms deal.

Iraq signed two arms deals with Russia and Czech republic during the visit of Maliki, at a time the Kurdish Alliance expressed its "grave concern' of the arms deal.