Global arms sales fall

Global arms deliveries fell 8 per cent in 2007, but there is little evidence of a long-term decline in the weapons sector, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said yesterday.

The fall in weapons transfers, which excludes small-arms sales, comes after six years of growth.

China was the biggest importer of weapons between 2003 and 2007, accounting for 12 per cent of the total.

It was followed by India, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and South Korea.