Iraq recently signed contracts to buy weapons from Russia worth more than $4.2 billion, according to a Russian government document issued Tuesday at a meeting between Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
President Vladimir Putin vocally opposed the U.S-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but Moscow has since sought energy and arms deals with Baghdad, and the contracts mean Iraq is now one of Russia's biggest weapons buyers.
The contracts were signed during visits to Russia by Iraq's acting defense chief in April, July and August, the document showed. It gave no further details.
(Reuters)
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