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01/12/2005:

"US warns Russia on selling missiles to Syria"

The United States warned Russia against selling missiles to Syria amid reports that Moscow was ready to provide Damascus with a sophisticated weapon that could hit any target in Israel.

But Russia denied it had any such plans.
Full Article: news.yahoo.com

Israel Opposes 'Russia - Syria Missile Deal' - Reports
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel is trying to stop Russia selling missiles to arch-foe Syria, which the Jewish state accuses of backing Hizbollah guerrillas and Palestinian militants, Israeli and Russian media said on Wednesday.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom did not confirm details but told Reuters: ``We held discussions on this here among ourselves a few days ago. We hope to reach the necessary understandings with the Russian government.''

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said he had no knowledge of a Russian-Syrian arms deal in the works.

Channel Two television said Russia planned to sell Syria arms including an unspecified number of SA-18 shoulder-fired missiles, which could threaten Israeli aircraft over Syria and southern Lebanon.
Full Article: nytimes.com/reuters