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Arms Exports Up 12%

Russia's weapons exports rose 12 percent last year to a record $15.2 billion, despite losing billions of dollars in deals with Libya after the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, President Vladimir Putin said.

Russia, the second-biggest arms exporter after the United States, said its largest clients were in Asia.

Putin, speaking in televised remarks during a meeting with senior Russian officials, said Russia supplied weapons to 66 countries but gave no breakdown for 2012 exports.

State arms exporter Rosoboronexport has said 43 percent of its 2012 exports went to Asia, with India, Vietnam and China among the top clients, while 23 percent went to the Middle East and North Africa and 18 percent to Latin America.

Russia supplied nearly $1 billion in arms to Syria in 2011.

(Reuters)

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