RUSSIA, SYRIA LEADING ARMS SUPPLIERS TO SADDAM

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Russia and Syria have been deemed the leading armssuppliers to the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. A CIA report identified Russia and Syria as two of the top 12 armssuppliers to Iraq until the eruption of the U.S.-led war against Baghdad inMarch 2003. The report, authored by Iraq Survey Group, listed Russia andSyria above North Korea -- regarded as the leading missile proliferator inthe Middle East -- as the leading suppliers to Baghdad.