US sanctions Russian firms over Syrian weapons sales

US State Department spokesman James Rubin said yesterday that the United States had decided to impose sanctions on three Russian companies for selling military equipment, anti-tank laser guided missiles, to Syria.

"Under specific circumstances, U.S. law requires that certain assistance be held from any foreign government that transfers lethal military equipment to a country determined by the Secretary of State to be a state-sponsor of terrorism. Syria was so designated," he said, adding that sanctions on the Russian government, which would have affected a $90 million assistance package, were waived.