Iraq, Russia Sign $4 Billion Arms Deal

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri-al-Maliki, on a three day visit to Moscow, is said to have concluded the signing of a $4.3 billion arms sales, making Russia Iraq’a largest weapons supplier followed by the U.S. According to reports, the contract concerns new energy tie-ups that are likely to create only the background to a strong common stance against any form of outside pressure on Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad to leave power. "The stance of Iraq calls for finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and it is opposed to violence ... for solving the crisis," Maliki said in a recent television interview. "Iraq has not intervened in Syria on behalf of the regime's interests, or for the interests of the armed opposition". Talks set for Wednesday will thus offer President Vladimir Putin a rare chance to showcase a key regional power as an ally of his refusal to press for Assad's resignation or let the opposition gain the upper hand after 19 months of fighting.