India objects to Iraq missile charge

India has objected to an allegation in a dossier published by the UK Government that an Indian firm helped Iraq develop its missile programme.

The 50-page dossier unveiled by the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on Wednesday, named NEC Engineers, a chemical engineering firm, as one of the companies that provided Iraq with material for its missile programme.

The Indian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Nirupama Rao, said it was unfortunate that Britain had singled out an Indian firm as the object of its allegations.

She added that Delhi was in touch with London over the issue.

The spokeswoman said the Indian Government had already suspended the firm's export licence, on charges of violating local regulations.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service