Sources in Moscow denounce as false reports in the Western media that the United States intends to buy from Russia ordnance for Afghanistan.

A senior military-diplomatic source maintains that the matter of arms deals with Afghanistan is not even considered. "Russia does not intend to sell either ordnance of military hardware to Afghanistan," the source said.

The Daily Telegraph reported not long ago that the US Administration had approached the Kremlin with the idea of selling "a great deal" of ordnance to the Afghani army against the case of installation of a Democrat in the White House in Washington, DC, and his decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. The Pentagon suggested the sale of 100,000 rounds for grenade launchers and 12,000 tank rounds. The United States was prepared to pay $400 million for the lot. The implication is that Bush's Administration is arming the regime in Kabul fearing that the next US President will be a Democrat.

Moskovsky Komsomolets, May 23, 2006