International   

Arms export criticised

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON JULY 9 . The Blair government came under attack today for approving arms exports to Israel despite its own guidelines which bar sales of arms if they are likely to be used against the Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Labour MPs joined the Opposition Liberal Democrats and human rights groups to accuse the Government of putting the interests of the arms industry above its claim to be pursuing an `ethical' foreign policy. A left-wing Labour MP, Alice Mahon, called it "an absolute scandal'' coming, as it did, after the arms sales to India and Pakistan even at the height of the recent military build-up.

The Government defended the decision with the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, saying that suspending the supplies would have had "serious implications'' for defence relations with the U.S.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• African Union replaces OAU
• Talks may revive peace process
• Norms for candidates: Pak. SC begins hearings
• Bush vows to end corporate corruption
• JVP disrupts Parliament over trouble in east
• War on terror goes beyond Osama: Bush
• Indian measures cosmetic: Pak.
• Video puts police in the dock
• Row over scholars' dismissal hots up
• Arms export criticised
• Sharif, Benazir join forces?
• Ecevit Govt. faces crisis
• Pak. inspector named in assassination plot
• Powell coming

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu