Troops in Iraq Find French Missiles

Polish troops in Iraq have found four French-built advanced anti-aircraft missiles that were built this year, a spokesman for Polish Defense Ministry told Reuters today.

France claims it has not sold any such missiles to Iraq for nearly two decades and says it was impossible that its newest missiles should turn up in Iraq.

"Polish troops discovered an ammunition depot on September 29 near the region of Hilla and there were four French-made Roland-type missiles," Defense Ministry spokesman Eugeniusz Mleczak said.

"It is not the first time Polish troops found ammunition in Iraq, but to our surprise these missiles were produced in 2003."

The United Nations banned Iraq, at least in theory, from importing arms after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990, but Baghdad bought weapons anyway from arms dealers.

"Since July 1990, France has not authorised a single shipment of military equipment to Iraq," a French Foreign Ministry spokesman insisted to Reuters.

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