Iraq: Al-Maliki and the issue of arms spendingnote

Iraqi PM Nuri Al-Maliki, in his quality as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, insists on providing the Defence Ministry with the necessary funds to supply the Iraqi Army with advanced weapons despite reticence from the Finance Ministry. The following 241-word report focuses on the issue and tells names of three defence contractors the Defence Ministry intends to continue contacts with on arms procurement.