Russia denies US accusation of sending helicopters to Syria

Russia's Foreign Minister has today rejected the US claim that Moscow is sending attack helicopters to Syria.

Russian news agencies reported that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied a claim by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that “there are attack helicopters on the way from Russia to Syria”.

Mr Lavrov said during a visit to Iran that Russia is completing earlier weapons contracts with Syria exclusively for air defence systems.

Mrs Clinton said that the shipment “will escalate the conflict quite dramatically”.

Mr Lavrov says that Russia is not providing Syria with weapons that can be used against peaceful demonstrators.

Russia, along with China, has vetoed international sanctions against Bashar Assad’s regime after its violent crackdown on protesters.