BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Premier Nouri al-Maliki today stressed the necessity of the US handing over the previously agreed up Iraq weaponry as soon as possible.

 

During a meeting with the US delegation to attend the Joint Security and Defence Committee, Maliki confirmed Iraq needed the military equipment "to guarantee Iraqi defenses."

 

In a statement, received by Aswat al-Iraq, US Deputy Defense Minister James Miller declared that "the United States is keen to increase military cooperation with Iraq and providing it with military and security equipment as soon as possible".

 

Iraq and Russia signed an agreement on military-technical cooperation, during Maliki's visit to Moscow last October.

 

The Russian military deal was reported to have corruption implications, which it is, now, under investigation on the Iraqi side.

 

The Russian side had earlier reported that the abrogation of the military agreement, if carried out, was due to US pressures on Iraq.

 

RM (TI)/SR